Army, SSC step up bid vs Ateneo, Navy

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Army tries to score a repeat over Ateneo while San Sebastian seeks revenge against Navy as action in the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference quarterfinal round heats up today at The Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Troopers and the Lady Stags wound up tied after the single round elims and both scored straight-set victories over Navy and Air Force at the start of the quarters to underscore their readiness to vie for the first Open crown.

Army held off Ateneo in four in the elims and looked sharp in its 25-20, 25-20, 26-24 conquest of Navy last Sunday to prime itself up against the first conference champions in today’s 2 p.m. match.

But the Lady Eagles are expected to come out strong as they open their quarterfinal bid in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza although they have to double their effort to stop a red-hot Army side.

The Lady Stags, on the other hand, try to get back at the Lady Sailors, who swept them in the elims, although the Recoletos-based squad has picked up its game since that loss, capped by a thrilling five-set win over Army at the close of the elims.

In contrast, Navy went on a roller-coaster ride, losing to Perpetual Help and finishing with a 4-2 card before dropping a three-setter to the Troopers last Sunday.

But the Sailors rebounded with a big victory over the Maynilad Water Dragons last Tuesday, fashioning out an emphatic 25-15, 25-23, 25-16 romp to even their card at 1-1 in the single round quarters of the season-ending tournament backed by Accel, Mikasa and Maynilad Water.

Michelle Carolino, Joanne Buñag, Mary Jean Balse and Rachel Ann Daquis are again expected to spearhead the Army attack against Ateneo, which hopes to neutralize its rival’s artillery behind Alyssa Valdez, Fille Cainglet, Gretchen Ho, Angeline Gervacio and Aerieal Patnongon.

The SSC-Navy showdown at 4 p.m. features the league’s leading spiker in American reinforcement Lauren Ford of SSC and the leading blocker in Michelle Laborte of Navy, ensuring a slam-bang action between two title contenders.

Ford, who had converted 106 spikes from 202 attempts in seven games for a 52.48 percent norm, hopes to draw support from Thai Jang Baulee, Joy Benito, Rubie de Leon, Janette Doria and Jill Gustilo.

Aside from Laborte, who leads the field with 18 blocks in eight matches, Navy will pin its hopes Nene Bautista, Suzanne Roces, Cecile Cruzada, Rose Prochina and Janet Serafica.