PNP’s Angelica Perez thwarts an attack by Rhea Dimaculangan of Air Force. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
MANILA, Philippines — Two early favorites came out too dominant as Philippine Army and Philippine Air Force trampled on separate opponents in straight sets in the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Open Conference Tuesday at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The Army’s Lady Troopers battered University of the Philippines with fiery attacks for a 25-18, 25-13, 25-17 victory that put them in the early lead.
Led by Army star Rachel Anne Daquis, the Lady Troopers unleashed 47 kills, more than double of the Lady Maroons’ paltry 21 spikes.
The Air Force’s Raiders also overpowered the Philippine National Police, 25-22, 25-23, 25-8, in the second game to join Army and opening-day winners National University and Ateneo on top.
Judy Caballejo, Maika Ortiz and Iari Yongco pooled 32 points in the match where the Raiders took the fight out of the PNP Lady Patrollers, who could only muster a measly eight points in the third set.
Daquis paced the Lady Troopers with 14 points built on 10 kills, two blocks and a couple of service aces.
By the third set, the Lady Troopers raced to a 16-10 advantage over the Lady Maroons to replicate their strong start.
MJ Balse, one of Army’s three former MVPs, fired three of the Lady Troopers’ eight service aces to finish with 13 markers.
Jovelyn Gonzaga, who just teamed up with Daquis in Far Eastern University’s title romp last conference, added 10 points.
The Raiders’ own star-studded crew likewise delivered with Caballejo drilling all but one of her 12 points on attacks.
Although the Lady Patrollers tried to keep pace in the first two frames, Rhea Dimaculangan set the tone in the Raiders’ third-set rout by opening with back-to-back service aces.
Iari Yongco had a 10-point output, including three of the Raiders’ seven blocks, while Maika Ortiz added 10 markers.
Dimaculangan, a veteran setter, posted four of the Raiders’ 10 service aces while also producing 23 of the team’s 28 excellent sets. Both UP and PNP absorbed their second straight loss.