MANILA— Philippine Army made quick work of Perpetual Help, 28-26, 25-17, 25-22, night and Thursday night kept the solo lead with its third straight win in the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Joanne Buñag punctured the Lady Altas’ defense with 15 hits while Marietta Carolino and Mary Jean Balse had four blocks to help Army extend its unbeaten run in the tournament.
Earlier, Suzanne Roces and Nene Bautista flashed ruthless form and Navy prolonged Ateneo’s misery with a 25-18, 25-23, 25-21 victory to also boost its quarterfinal bid.
Cecille Cruzada finished with 10 points, including back-to-back hits that lifted Navy ahead for good, 19-18, in the third set. Roces wrapped up the match in 80 minutes with a down-the-line spike.
The Lady Eagles showed plenty of fight in the third set, taking an 11-8 lead, before fading as Navy stepped up its attack anchored on Bautista and Cecille Cruzada.
Roces notched seven hits, three blocks and four service points, while Bautista, a former league MVP, posted 15 hits as Navy rose to fourth by raising its record to 2-1.
The Lady Eagles lost for the third straight time and fell to fifth at 2-3.