Army dismantles PLDT, gains solo lead

MANILA, Philippines—They had the cannons to fire upon a hapless power.

Firing on all cylinders, the Philippine Army Lady Troopers imposed its will on the PLDT Power Attackers in three straight sets, 25-18, 25-16, 25-15, at the San Juan Arena Thursday afternoon.

Power Attacker Gretchel Soltones handed out the lone number one seed to the Army after her shot went wide for PLDT with the Lady Troopers notching a clean 4-0 record.

PLDT fell to second place with a 4-1 slate.

Army coach Rico de Guzman said his Lady Troopers went on full attack mode as PLDT lacked key players Carmina Aganon, Royce Estampa, Abi Maraño, and Dindin Santiago.

“Their plays were so slow as they lacked their players,” de Guzman said. “We just took the opportunity and sped our attack.”

Philippine Army laid out its dominance in the third set running a 5-1 blitz to close the match.

Nerissa Bautista put Army up 24-15 in the final moments of the third with a clean kill thru the PLDT defense.

De Guzman added that he is thankful that his players were fit and healthy despite the landfall of Typhoon “Glenda.”

“As long as we are not sick, we are conditioned, it’s the important thing,” de Guzman said. “We can’t be complacent.”

Bautista, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Mary Jean Balse, and Rachel Ann Daquis combined for 47 points for the Lady Troopers.