Army spikers destroy PLDT

JOCIEMER Tapic of Air Force fails to beat the defense of Cagayan Valley’s Pau Soriano in yesterday’s game at Filoil Flying V Arena. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Ferocious on both ends of the floor, Army overwhelmed PLDT Home Telpad, 25-18, 25-16, 25-15, yesterday to stretch its unbeaten run to four games in the Shakey’s V-League Season II Open Conference at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

With their star players rising to the challenge, the Lady Troopers turned what was expected to be a tight battle into a rout as they dealt the Turbo Boosters their first loss in five games.

Cagayan Valley, leaning on the trio of Rose Vargas, Aiza Maizo and Pau Soriano, climbed to third following a 25-13, 25-22, 25-20 demolition of Air Force in the second game.

Vargas, Maizo and Soriano joined forces for 36 hits as the defending champion Rising Suns notched their third win in four games while pinning a second loss on the Raiders in five games.

The Turbo Boosters enhanced their reputation with all their victories coming in four sets. But the Lady Troopers gave them a quick reminder on who remains the team to beat in the tournament.

Army refused to let up even after building an early cushion in each of the three sets as it completed the victory in just 64 minutes.

“We respect (the strength of) PLDT Home Telpad so much that I told my players not to relax even when we were leading,” said Army coach Rico de Guzman.

Squeezing the best out of their talented roster, the Lady Troopers turned to former MVPs MJ Balse, Nene Bautista and Jovelyn Gonzaga for 12 hits each in a balanced assault.

The Lady Troopers kept the Turbo Boosters guessing with the variety of their attacks as Rachel Ann Daquis also came up with 11 hits for Army, which finished with 43 kills.

Army also had seven blocks and eight service aces in another dominant performance against a surprisingly listless PLDT squad.

The loss was tough to take for PLDT coach Roger Gorayeb.

“It’s better you ask them (players),” an obviously disgusted Gorayeb told reporters when asked what he thought of the Turbo Boosters’ game.

No player breached double figures for the Turbo Boosters with Gretchel Soltones turning in the best output with just seven points and Lou Ann Latigay and Angela Benting ending up with six hits each.