Air Force stops Ateneo, grabs last semis slot

Games tomorrow

(The Arena, San Juan)

2 p.m. – Army vs Air Force

4 p.m. – PLDT vs Cagayan Valley

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Air Force ended Ateneo's giant-slaying ways with a methodical 25-20, 25-22, 25-22, victory Tuesday to catch the last Final Four bus in the Shakey's V-League Season 11-Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Air Spikers used Maika Ortiz as a decoy by drawing strength from other sources as they take down the Lady Eagles while clinching the fourth and last spot in the semifinals, where they will join Army, PLDT Home TelPad and reigning titlist Cagayan Valley.

Ortiz contributed only five hits but she deferred to Judy Caballejo and an unheralded but effective Mary Ann Pantino.

Caballejo paced Air Force with 11, including 10 on kills while Pantino, a little-known prize find from AMA, chipped in seven, including two blocks and not counting some intangibles and hustle plays.

"We know that Maika (Ortiz) is heavily guarded by tall players alike (Alyssa) Valdez and (Amy) Ahomiro so I told her to go to our open spikers more often," said Air Force coach Clarence Esteban in Filipino.

"Good thing our plan worked," he added.

The power-spiking Valdez, undoubtedly the most popular volleyball player in the country today, was held to just 18 hits that stymied Ateneo's bid to crash into the Final Four party and continue its miracle run.

After starting the elimination round with a lethargic 2-5 (win-loss) start, Valdez and the Lady Eagles, the reigning UAAP champions, went on a big-winning rampage by seizing their next five games to forge a knockout showdown with the Air Spikers.

Air Force though had other things in mind.

Esteban also said it helped them a bit that Air Force sent some 50-man platoon to cheer for them even though they were thoroughly outnumbered by the predominantly Valdez and Ateneo fans.

"We were outnumbered but we're thankful we have our fellow Air Force cheering for us against 'Barangay Ateneo,'" said Esteban.

After succumbing in the first two sets, the Lady Eagles fought hard in the third set and battled the Air Spikers all set long until Caballejo's faulty reception allowed the former to knot it at 22-all.

Then Dimaculangan threaded through Ateneo's plastic-thin defense up front and then the Lady Eagles committed two errors that allowed Air Force to seal the deal.