Salak exits game with a blast, tows Army to V-League title

MANILA, Philippines – Army may have seen the last of Tina Salak.

With retirement looming over the horizon, Salak carried Army to another championship as it overpowered a flustered Cagayan Valley, 25-14, 25-7, 25-23, to complete an emphatic finals sweep of the Shakey's V-League Season 11 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan City Sunday.

One of the most senior in the league at 38 years old, Salak defied her age and had six hits while serving as the adhesive that kept her team together with 30 excellent sets to seal the Lady Troopers their first title since winning it all three years back.

Salak's recent effort may have been her last as she is planning to hang up her playing shoes and retire.

"I told coach (Rico de Guzman) this may be my last," said Salak, an Army Corporal who has been in the service for 17 years.

This is why Salak has taken in Jovelyn Gonzaga as her understudy.

"I'm training her as a setter and I see her as taking up my spot when I leave," said Salak of the 22-year-old Gonzaga, who has enlisted two years ago.

Salak, however, said it's hard to leave when you're winning.

"If they still want me even in different capacity, I'll probably think about staying for a while," she said.

Gonzaga, an education major at Central Phl U in Iloilo before enlisting in the Army after graduation, towed the Lady Troopers with 13 hits including 12 kills to clinch her second Finals MVP.

"I'm learning a lot from her (Salak)," said Gonzaga, who had 19 hits including 13 on spikes and six on blocks, in Army's 25-19, 18-25, 25-18, 25-7, Game One victory last Thursday.

She also delivered the most telling blows in the match, hitting two powerful spikes in the third set when Army took the last four points to turn a 21-23 deficit to its first championship since going all the way three years ago.

"I'm lucky to be blessed with great players," said Army coach Rico de Guzman, who also boasts of having reigning conference MVP Rachel Anne Daquis on his stable.

De Guzman said Salak's presence make it easier for him.

"She's like my eyes and voice inside the court, she's a very intelligent player," said de Guzman of Salak.

The Rising Suns appeared ready for carnage after disappointingly dropping the first two sets.

But the Nes Pamilar-mentored belles, who won this same conference last year, found their groove and fought gallantly in the third set when they took a 23-21 lead with Aiza Maizo scoring three straight.

It turned out Cagayan Valley's last show of force as Gonzaga took over from there.