Ateneo tossers batter Lady Altas in Shakey’s V-League

MANILA—Ateneo streaked to its second straight win with plenty to spare as the Lady Eagles thumped debuting Perpetual Help, 25-23, 25-17, 25-21, Tuesday night to claim the solo lead in the Shakey’s V-League Season 8 Open Conference at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Eagles leaned on Fille Cainglet, Alyssa Valdez, Gretchen Ho and Angeline Gervacio again to record a resounding followup to their straight-sets conquest over the Maynilad Water Dragons.

Earlier, Army, drawing strength from national team standout Michelle Carolino, launched its campaign in style as it came from behind to dump Navy, 23-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-23, in a battle of Armed Forces teams.

Carolino, a member of the team that won the bronze medal in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, posted a conference-high 26 points, while Joanne Bunag finished with 20 as Army kept its mastery over Navy, which it has beaten several times in inter-Armed Forces tournaments.

“We are familiar with Navy and the way they play,” said Army coach Rico De Guzman, whose squad pulled off the win in an hour and 51 minutes. “We could have done better with our receiving.”

Despite the 2-0 start, Ateneo coach Parley Tupaz believes his squad still has more to show in the eight-team tournament.

Cainglet pumped in 17 points, while Valdez finished with 10 before sitting out most of the third set as Tupaz sent in some of his reserve players to gain experience as they prepare for the UAAP tournament late this year.

“We are still trying to be consistent because the players have a tendency to relax every time we are ahead,” Tupaz said in Filipino.

Except for the opening set where the Lady Altas, who will be reinforced by two Thai imports in the next game, came within a point at 23-24, the Lady Eagles were hardly troubled in the match that lasted 55 minutes.

The Army siege was rendered toothless with Mary Jean Balse and Carolino defending the net for Navy, which limited its rivals to just 53 points.

Benefiting from the stellar setting of Tina Salak, Carolino and Bunag accounted for 43 of the 73 attack points of Navy. Marietta Carolino and Balse combined for 22 for Navy, which faces San Sebastian tomorrow.

Suzanne Roces, who established herself as one of the league’s stars while playing for San Sebastian, paced Navy with 20 points.