Army trips Cagayan; Valdez lifts Ateneo

AIR FORCE star Maika Ortiz (left) sends a zinger past Amy Ahomiro of Ateneo. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Regaining its lethal form, Army overwhelmed Cagayan Valley, 25-22, 25-15, 22-25, 25-16, yesterday to gain a share of the lead in the quarterfinal round of the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Open Conference at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Returning from a one-game absence, Rachel Anne Daquis joined forces with Nerissa Bautista in puncturing the Lady Rising Suns’ porous floor defense and lift the Lady Troopers to a seventh victory in nine games.

The duo accounted for half of Army’s 58 attack points as the Lady Troopers avenged their four-set defeat to the Lady Rising Suns in the first round.

Later, Ateneo fought back from a set down to overcome Air Force, 25-21, 22-25, 17-25, 25-19, 15-9, and keep its semifinal bid alive.

The Lady Eagles drew another big game from Alyssa Valdez as they climbed to fifth spot with a 4-5 record. The Raiders remained in fourth spot, but saw their record drop to 6-4.

Quick and explosive on attack, Valdez delivered another 29-hit game for the Lady Eagles, who got 15 points from Amy Ahomiro and Miren Gequillana.

Bea de Leon contributed 11 points for the Lady Eagles, who remain unbeaten in the quarterfinal round with a 2-0 card.

Toughened by so many wars in the UAAP, the Lady Eagles refused to be rattled even after losing the third set, extending the game to a fifth and deciding frame where Valdez once again sparkled.

Maika Ortiz had 20 hits for Air Force.

The Lady Rising Suns had no answer to the Lady Troopers’ offensive juggernaut with Mary Jean Balse and Jovelyn Gonzaga helping keep the attack unpredictable for coach Rico de Guzman.

“We just did what we do best, which is to attack,” said De Guzman.

Playing with a spring in her step, veteran Tina Salak also combined with Gonzaga in putting up a blanket at the net, joining forces for six of their team’s 11 blocks.

“We had a good defensive game plan,” said De Guzman.

The Lady Rising Suns fell to third with a 6-2 record, even after getting 20 hits from Aiza Maizo and 13 from Rosemarie Vargas.

Army stayed composed in a tightly-fought first set, before Bautista and Balse got going late in the second set to give the Lady Troopers a two-set advantage.

Wenneth Eulalio gave the Lady Rising Suns a lifeline with consecutive kills in the third set, breaking a 21-all stalemate and trim the deficit, 1-2.