Army Lady Troopers gain lead of Shakey’s V-League

MANILA, Philippines — Flashing poise and composure at the most crucial time, Army outlasted a gritty Ateneo side in five thrilling sets, 25-22, 25-13, 28-30, 20-26, 16-14, in the Shakey’s V-League Season II Open Conference at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan Tuesday night.

Veterans Jovelyn Gonzaga and Rachel Anne Daquis delivered the decisive points as the Lady Troopers saved two match points before fashioning out the victory in two hours and a minute.

The victory allowed the Lady Troopers to forge a tie at the top with PLDT Home Telpad Turbo Boosters, who finished the elimination round with a 6-1 record.

Earlier, Air Force seized solo fourth spot with a 25-21, 25-21, 25-22 walloping of National U.

Joy Cases tallied 11 hits, while Iari Yongco, Maika Ortiz and May Ann Pantino combined for 27 points for the Raiders, who improved to 4-3.

With the record in the elimination-round carried over to the quarterfinals, the win could prove critical to the Raiders’ bid of finishing in the Top 4.

The Lady Bulldogs fell to fifth spot with a 3-4 record, putting the Lady Eagles, who hold a 2-4 slate, under pressure to win their last elimination-round game against Cagayan Valley on Thursday.

The Raiders collected eight more points on attack with 42 spikes, offsetting the production of Jaja Santiago and Rizza Jane Mandapat who combined for 20 kills.

Undaunted by Army’s pedigree, the Lady Eagles bounced back resoundingly after dropping the first two sets.

Ateneo actually looked poised to pull off the biggest upset of the tournament with a 14-12 lead in the final set.

But a service miscue by Ateneo’s Julia Morado that was followed by Daquis’ booming ace tied the match at 14-all.