V-League: Air Force turns back NU to secure No. 4

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Air Force repulsed National University, 25-21, 25-21, 25-22, Tuesday to secure the fourth spot heading into the quarterfinal round of the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Open Conference at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Raiders made it look easy, dispatching the Lady Bulldogs, champions of last season’s First Conference, in straight sets, but their win wasn’t as smooth-sailing as it looked.

Air Force had to rally from three points down, 18-21, in the third set – capitalizing on NU’s errors – with six unanswered points to put itself at match point, 24-21.

Joy Cases registered a team-high 11 points for Air Force, which finished its elimination round campaign with a 4-3 record.

Maika Ortiz and May Ann Pantino added nine markers each while Iari Yongco chipped in eight, including the game-clinching point.

Jaja Santiago topscored with 14 points for the Lady Bulldogs, which slipped to 3-4. Rizza Jane Mandapat had 13 while Myla Pablo scored nine.

“Jaja (Santiago) will always get her points every time she’s at the front line so we just tried to bring her at the back end,” Air Force coach Clarence Esteban said in Filipino.

Both Air Force and NU are already in the quarterfinals coming into the game, joining league-leader PLDT, Army, Cagayan Valley and Ateneo.

The Lady Bulldogs committed 27 errors as compared to the Raiders’ 17.

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