Cases leads Air Force past Navy in V-League

MANILA, Philippines – Air Force needed to overcome a fierce first set challenge put up by Navy as it hammered out a 25-18, 25-19, 25-16 victory to inch closer to the quarterfinals in the Shakey’s V-League 10 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan City Friday.

Joy Gazelle Cases spearheaded the onslaught with 18 hits, 16 on kills and the rest on blocks as the Air Women nailed their third victory in row after limping to a two straight defeats that pushed them one win away from clinching a spot in the quarters.

Judy Ann Caballejo, Maika Ortiz and Liza de Ramos provided the ample scoring back up to the power-hitting Cases as the three combined for 27 hits in helping sealing the win for Air Force.

The Lady Sailors, however, roared to a strong start and led 5-1 before the Air Women came charging back to seize a 15-14 advantage.

Navy skipper Mic Mic Laborte uncorked an ace to knot it at 15-all, which turned out to be their last show of resistance as Air Force dominated the rest of the opening set.

After taking the second set with ease, the Air Women staggered in the early part of the third when the Lady Sailors grabbed an 8-7 upper hand that turned out short-lived as the former went on a rampage again to zap the fight out of the latter.

Navy fell to 1-5.