Army opens title defense with oomph

MAUREEN Penetrante-Ouano of Meralco is thwarted by the Army defense laid by Jovelyn Gonzaga and Mary Jean Balse (right) in yesterday’s inaugural women’s game of the Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Powerhouse Philippine Army kicked off its bid for back-to-back crowns by making light work of Meralco, 25-19, 25-18, 25-19, at the start of the Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference yesterday before a huge crowd at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Dindin Santiago led a balanced attack by the Lady Troopers with 10 points, spoiling the debut of Meralco’s Japanese reinforcement Misao Tanyama and Thai Wanida Kotruang.

Veterans MJ Balse, Rachel Daquis and Michelle Carolino also combined for 27 hits as the Lady Troopers registered a 46-25 edge on attack points. Kotruang paced the Power Spikers with 12 points.

Earlier, the maiden men’s tournament showed promise of a dogfight in every match.

Instituto Estetico Manila needed a strong fifth set performance to overcome Systema Tooth and Gum Care, 17-25, 25-19, 25-18, 23-25, 15-12.

“This is historic because we won the first-ever game of Shakey’s V-League’s breakthrough men’s division,” said Instituto coach Jun Balubar, who also steered NCBA to multiple titles in the NCRAA and Cusa.

In a thrilling finish, it was IEM’s Jason Canlas who shone the brightest with 16 points including a couple of hits that lifted the Volley Masters.

Canlas put IEM at match point at 14-11 but Christopher Antonio’s kill gave Systema a lifeline, before Patrick Rojas sent a smash long to seal the victory for IEM, which grabbed the headstart in the four-team men’s tournament.

The match lasted two hours and five minutes with IEM needing to fight back from a set down twice to forge a decider.

Jeffrey Jimenez and Karl Ian dela Calzada added 13 hits while Salvador Timbal and Rudy Gatdula contributed nine points apiece for the Volley Masters.

Antonio smashed a team-high 23 hits, including 17 attacks, for Systema but it wasn’t enough as Systema struggled to break down the IEM net defense.

Actor Richard Gomez wound up with four points for Systema, drawing loud cheers from the crowd with every touch in the first two sets.

Systema tries to bounce back against Far Eastern U tomorrow.

The third conference of the Shakey’s V-League opened with an exhibition game that saw Far Eastern U dump the Philippine Under-17 team, 25-15, 25-23, 25-23.

Bernadette Pons had 14 hits including 11 on kills to lead the Tamaraws.