PNP sinks PN, gains q’finals

FRANCES Molina delivered in the game that mattered most as Philippine National Police smashed Philippine Navy, 25-16, 25-14, 17-25, 25-21, last night to clinch a quarterfinal berth in the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference.

Quiet in the last two games, Molina, a San Beda standout, drilled in 23 points to lift the Lady Patrollers in the virtual knockout match for the sixth and last spot in the next round at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Thai import Patcharee Sangmuang also sparkled with 20 points while Janine Marciano contributed 17 for the Lady Patrollers, who finished the elimination round with a 2-5 record.

The Lady Sailors looked poise to drag the game to a deciding set after forcing the game’s last deadlock at 21-21 on a Janet Serafica kill, before Sangmuang and Molina scored the next three points for match point. An attacking error by Rosemarie Prochina sealed the win for the Lady Patrollers.

“We kept our focus and stayed dedicated,” said PNP coach Bob Malenab, whose squad joined Cagayan Valley, Smart, Meralco, Air Force and Army in the next round.

But with the records carried over to the next phase, the Lady Patrollers have their work cut out for them, starting with a duel against Army tomorrow.

The Lady Sailors were eliminated together with Far Eastern U, which lost to Army,  25-15, 25-17, 24-26, 25-21, in the first match.

The win locked up the No. 2 spot for the Army Women in the single-round quarterfinals.