RACHEL Ann Daquis of Army tries to score off Judy Caballejo of Air Force. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Defending champion Cagayan Valley and top seed Army hammered out four-set victories yesterday and moved on the cusp of a championship duel in the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Open Conference at Filoil Flying V Arena.
Sustaining their fine form, the Lady Rising Suns overwhelmed the PLDT Home Telpad Boosters, 25-11, 16-25, 25-14, 25-20 while the Lady Troopers, with unheralded players stepping up, rallied from a set down to post a 24-26, 25-19, 25-20, 25-19 triumph over the Air Force Spikers.
Veterans Genie Sabas and Joanne Bunag picked up the slack for a struggling Rachel Ann Daquis as Army gained the headstart in the semifinal series.
Daquis was rested after a subpar opening set, opening the door for Sabas and Bunag to make an impact by combining for 24 hits.
“I’m just happy that the two from the bench stepped up,” said Army coach Rico de Guzman.
“She looked tired so I just rested her,” added de Guzman referring to Daquis, the team’s scorer with a 14-point norm.
Jovelyn Gonzaga paced the Lady Troopers with 18 hits with Mary Jean Balae and Nerissa Bautista delivering 13 and 11, respectively.
The victory moved Army closer to reclaiming the title it last won three years ago. After an error-prone performance in the first set, the Lady Troopers found their groove anew with Sabas, a recruit from Cebu, proving to be a solid attacking option.
Bunag, the former Far Eastern U star, also sparkled with 10 hits, helping the Lady Troopers sustain their superb form in the third and fourth sets.
The Air Spikers looked to have carried the momentum of their playoff victory over Ateneo with a strong opening set led by Judy Caballejo who wound up with 16 hits.
In danger of missing out on a semifinal berth last week, the Lady Rising Suns are a victory away from returning to the finals after another solid effort from the trio of Janine Marciano, Aiza Maizo and Rosemarie Vargas.
Vargas tallied 18 points while Marciano had 16 for the Lady Rising Suns who have now won two straight games after dropping their first four outings in the quarterfinal round.
The Lady Rising Suns quickly got into their rhythm on attack as Vargas led the way.