Volley Masters nail Shakey’s final berth

Games tomorrow

2 p.m. – FEU vs RTU

4 p.m. – Cagayan vs PLDT

MANILA, Philippines - Instituto Estetico Manila reasserted its mastery over Far Eastern U and fashioned out a 25-20, 25-21, 25-21 victory to nail the first finals berth in the men’s division of the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Third Conference at The Arena in San Juan City late Thursday.

Like in their first round sweep, the Volley Masters used their power and foiled the Tams’ attackers with superb net defense that netted them eight blocks en route to the 74-minute romp that gave them a shot at the inaugural men’s crown in the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s and backed by Mikasa and Accel.

It was IEM’s fourth victory in five games with the idle Systema side a cinch to clinch the other finals seat with a 3-1 card as the two other teams – Rizal Technological University and FEU – are way behind with 1-3 and 1-4 cards, respectively, heading to the last three playdates of the double-round robin elims among four teams in the league where it all started.

The Systema Active Smashers will try to formalize their finals stint against the RTU Blue Thunder on Tuesday.

Jason Canlas and Jeffrey Jimenez came through with three blocks apiece and topscored with 13 and 11 hits, respectively, while Eden Canlas and Michael Conde added seven markers apiece for the Volley Masters, who produced 36 smashes, nine more than the Tams.

Greg Dolor scored 10 hits but drew just six points from Jeric Gacutan and five markers apiece from Clifford Miranda and Franco Camcam as the former UAAP champion Tams fell to their third straight defeat and bowed out of the finals race.

Earlier, Army pulled off another five-setter over Cagayan Valley, 25-22, 26-24, 26-28, 23-25, 15-13, and booked the first finals slot in the women’s play of the country’s premier volley league.

Despite the loss, their second against the same number of wins, the Rising Suns are still tipped to join the Lady Troopers in the finals although they must hurdle the PLDT Home Telpad Turbo Boosters in tomorrow’s make-or-break match.

PLDT Home Telpad also totes a 2-2 card while Meralco is out of it all with a 0-5 record.