SSC rips Navy; Ateneo bags it

HEADY PLAY Mary Remy Joy Palma of Far Eastern slams one in off Joanne Bunag of Army in yesterday’s game. EDWIN BELLOSILLO

Sandugo-San Sebastian put a lock on the top spot with a straight-sets victory that also gave Ateneo a free ride to the Final Four.

Led by the power-hitting Jeng Bualee, the Lady Stags made quick work of Philippine Navy, 25-18, 25-12, 25-20, to secure the No. 1 seeding with a 9-1 record at the end of the Shakey’s V-League Open eliminations yesterday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Sandugo victory awarded the Lady Eagles an outright passage to the semifinals as the Lady Sailors bowed out with a 2-8 record.

Philippine Army also secured the second spot at 8-2 following a 22-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-16 triumph over Far Eastern University in the second game.

Rachel Ann Daquis unloaded 22 points, while Michelle Carolino and Joanne Bunag scored 12 each to help the defending champions recover from a set down.

Bualee fired all but one of her 22 points on spikes, nearly half of the Lady Stags’ 44 total in the 62-minute match.

Sandugo coach Roger Gorayeb said his team played with little pressure as Thai Utaiwan Kaensing and Angela Benting also chipped in.

“We were relaxed because we knew we had the No. 1 spot,” said Gorayeb.

Kaensing drilled seven of her 11 points on kills, while Benting added eight markers.

Navy had hoped for a win coupled with an Ateneo loss in the nightcap to forge a playoff for the last semifinal berth.

The best-of-three semifinals starts today with Army and Cagayan battling at 4 p.m. and Sandugo clashing with Ateneo at 6 tonight.

The Lady Stags downed the Lady Eagles on opening day, 27-25, 25-19, 25-20, before scoring a repeat, 20-25, 25-17, 25-15, 25-23, in the second round.