PNP drowns Navy, clinches quarterfinal berth

Games tomorrow

2 p.m. – PNP vs Army

4 p.m. – Smart vs Air Force

Standings            W            L

* - Cagayan         7              0

* - Army               6              1

* - Air Force        5              2

* - Smart              4              3

* - Meralco         3              4

* - PNP 2              5

Navy      1              6

FEU        0              7

* - Quarterfinalists

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police used its power to sink Philippine Navy, 25-16, 25-14, 17-25, 25-21, and clinch the last quarterfinal berth in the Shakey’s V-League Season 10 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan City last night.

Frances Molina dished out a superb all-around game of 16 kills, four aces and three blocks while Thai reinforcement Sangmuang Patcharee added 20 hits as Patrolers bounced back from a third set defeat to frustrate the Lady Sailors in their showdown for the last seat in the next round.

But with a 2-5 mark going to the carryover quarters phase, PNP will have a lot of catching up to do to get a crack at the semis of the season-ending conference sponsored by Shakey’s, starting with fancied Army tomorrow.

Earlier, the Army Women foiled the Far Eastern U Lady Tams, 25-15, 25-17, 24-26, 25-20, to close out their elims campaign with a 6-1 card.

Cagayan Province leads the quarters with a 7-0 slate with Air Force finishing with a 5-2 mark followed by Smart-Maynilad (4-3) and Meralco (3-4).

Navy and FEU wound up with 1-6 and 0-7 records, respectively, and bowed out of the tournament backed by Mikasa and Accel.

Janine Marciano also came through with 17 markers while Kristine Dave had eight points for PNP, which overpowered Navy, 59-45, in spikes, despite producing just 28 sets as against the Lady Sailors’ 36 courtesy of Janeth Serafica.

Michelle Laborte flicked 19 hits, Chris Rosale chipped in 10 points and Rose Prochina, Abigail Praca and Aileen Suson combined for 18 hits for Navy.

Jovelyn Gonzaga anchored Army’s charge in the early going and scattered 12 hits while Rachel Daquis came off the bench to fire 16 hits for the Lady Troopers.

Bernadeth Pons and Mary Palma combined for 31 hits for FEU, which, however, lost steam while trying to send the match into a five-set affair. FEU thus closed out its stint with seven losses but with renewed confidence as it heads to the UAAP volley wars.

The star-studded Army Women uncorked a 62-spike game in the one-hour, 49-minute encounter, 22 more than their rivals while coming up with nine blocks as against the Lady Tams’ four.

The Army Women appeared headed for another quick straight-set victory that marked their campaign in the elims. But they needed to toughen up when the Lady Tams put on a strong stand to snatch the third set.

Shaken, Army put its act together in the fourth but needed to toughen up at endgame to frustrate the Morayta-based squad.

Army mentor Rico de Guzman rued his team’s complacency that gave FEU the upperhand and confidence.

“The team just relaxed, I’m disappointed,” said de Guzman.

Meanwhile, the Army-FEU match will be shown on GMA News TV Channel 11 today starting at 1 p.m. while the PNP-Navy clash, still being played at presstime, will be telecast on Monday, according to the organizing Sports Vision.