V-League leader Army duels skidding Ateneo

MANILA—Philippine Army hopes to sustain its streak against slumping Ateneo Tuesday in the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference.

Led by Mary Jean Balse, Michelle Carolino and Rachel Ann Daquis, the Lady Troopers go for a fifth straight victory against the Lady Eagles at 2 p.m. at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.

“We always prepare hard for each game and everybody knows her role in the team,” said Daquis.

Philippine Navy, running third with a 3-1 record, battles another skidding squad in Maynilad at 4 p.m. on the penultimate playdate of the single-round eliminations.

Assured of a quarterfinal slot, the Lady Troopers only need two more wins to complete an elimination sweep.

Idle San Sebastian (4-1) and Navy (3-1) have also clinched berths in the quarterfinals along with Philippine Air Force (2-3) and Ateneo (2-3).

The Lady Eagles try to arrest a three-game skid with Fille Cainglet and Alyssa Valdez, two of the league’s top scorers, and Angeline Gervacio, Gretchen Ho, Jemenea Ferrer, Mona Bagatsing and Leal Patnongon.

Cainglet averages a league-best 18 hits, while Valdez owns a third-running 17-point clip.

Daquis emerged as the game’s best performer in the Lady Troopers’ last game, delivering 11 hits, three blocks and three aces in a 25-22, 25-15, 25-27, 25-15 victory against Maynilad over the weekend.

Maynilad needs a win to avoid falling into a playoff against the winless Perpetual Help for the last quarterfinal seat.

Perpetual must win over Navy on the final day of eliminations this Thursday and hope for a pair of Maynilad losses to forge a playoff.