Smart rips PNP, leads Shakey’s V-L

MANILA, Philippines - Short in manpower but long in talent, Smart continued to sweep the opposition, overpowering Philippine National Police, 25-14, 25-15, 25-17, to seize the solo lead in the Shakey’s V-League Season 10 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Veteran Sue Roces recovered from a nine-point game against Far Eastern U last Sunday, blasting away 21 hits, including kills and five service aces, to power the Smart belles to their second straight-set victory for the solo lead.

Gretchel Soltones, the 17-year-old hitter out of San Sebastian, also turned in a solid game of 13 hits she spiked with 11 kills, as the Smart side made a big follow-up to its 25-16, 25-5, 25-19 romp over FEU in last Sunday’s opener of the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.

For the second straight game, Smart played with just eight players – Roces, Soltones, Rubie de Leon, Maruja Banaticla, Charo Soriano, Melissa Gohing, Nica Guliman and Jem Ferrer – but got the job done just the same.

Except for libero Melissa Gohing, all players fielded in by coach Roger Gorayeb scored with Guliman and Soriano adding eight and seven points, respectively, Banaticla scoring four after a 19-hit output against FEU, and setters de Leon and Ferrer chipping two and one, respectively.

Former MVP Alyssa Valdez is actually in the Smart roster but the top Ateneo hitter will only suit up after completing her stint in the UAAP beach volley tournament which ends Sept. 15.

In the other game, Cagayan Valley bounced back from a second set meltdown with a dominating performance in the last two sets as it fashioned out a 25-22, 17-25, 25-14, 25-19 victory over Air Force in the other match.

Angeli Tabaquero and Aiza Maizo unloaded 21 and 13 hits, respectively, while Thai imports Kannika Thipachot and Phomia Soraya combined for 24 hits as the Rising Suns kicked off their campaign on a winning note.

Judy Ann Caballejo came away with 18 hits for the Air Women.

Meanwhile, the Smart-PNP game will be aired on GMA News TV Channel 11 at 1 p.m. today while the Air Force-Cagayan match, being played at presstime, will be telecast on Monday, also starting at 1 p.m., according to the organizing Sports Vision.