PLDT tossers move to No. 2 in Shakey’s v-league

MANILA, Philippines — PLDT Home Telpad walloped National U, 25-13, 25-20, 25-19, Tuesday to seize solo second spot even as Air Force hammered out another upset in the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Open Conference at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Stung by a stunning loss to Ateneo last Sunday, the Turbo Boosters came out with all guns ablaze, leaving the Lady Bulldogs with little room to operate and coming away with their seventh win in nine games.

Laurence Ann Latigay blasted 11 kills and fired four aces in a 17-hit performance that was backstopped by former Most Valuable Player Suzanne Roces’ 15-hit output.

The Raiders pinned only a second defeat to Army by hammering out a 20-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-22 win later in the day.

Air Force capitalized on the absence of Rachel Anne Daquis as it firmed up its hold of the No. 4 spot with NU also losing in the first game.

With the victory, the Raiders also stayed in the hunt for top spot with a 6-3 card even as the Lady Troopers fell from joint first to solo third at 6-2, giving  idle defending champion Cagayan Valley the solo lead at 6-1.

Joy Cases carried the fight for the Raiders, blasting 19 kills and finished with 20 hits while Judy Caballejo wound up with 18. Maika Ortiz added 14 and May Ann Pantino and Jocie Tapic combined for 14 hits for the Raiders, who remain unbeaten in the quarterfinals.

Jovelyn Gonzaga fired 14 hits, setter Tina Salak chipped in 13 points and Joanne Bunag and Nene Bautista had 12 and 10 markers, respectively, but it wasn’t enough to compensate for Daquis’ absence.

The Turbo Boosters left little to chance as they neutralized Jaja Santiago at the net. The statuesque spiker had to toil for her 17 points, while drawing little support from Myla Pablo and Rissa Mandapat.

The second straight loss in the quarterfinal round meant the Lady Bulldogs only have an outside chance of reaching the semifinals after falling to 3-6.