Troopers outlast Turbo Boosters, arrange title duel vs Rising Suns

MANILA, Philippines - Army went through a wringer but foiled PLDT Home Telpad just the same, 23-25, 25-16, 16-25, 25-21, 15-10, to sweep the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Third Conference elims at The Arena in San Juan last night and arrange another title clash with Cagayan Valley.

The Lady Troopers scored the first four points in the decider and stayed in command the rest of the way to fashion out the victory in 1:55 while dashing the Turbo Boosters’ hopes to force a playoff for the other finals berth.

The victory thus sealed the Army-Cagayan duel for the second straight conference with the Lady Troopers going for back-to-back after sweeping the Rising Suns for the Open Conference crown of the league sponsored by Shakey’s last August.

Despite securing the first finals berth as early as last week, the Lady Troopers still went for the win for the momentum they need in the championship against a Cagayan Valley squad reinforced by Thais Patcharee Saengmuang and Amporn Hyapha.

PLDT Home Telpad thus wound up with a 2-4 card.

Rachel Ann Daquis regained her fierce form and unloaded 15 kills for an 18-hit output while Mary Jean Balse, Jovelyn Gonzaga and Nerissa Bautista fired 15 points apiece for Army, which played without top hitter Dindin Santiago.

But Genie Sabas stepped up to chip in 10 hits as the Lady Troopers stayed unbeaten since the Open Conference finals to stake its claim as the country’s top volley squad.

Sue Roces and Laurence Ann Latigay carried the fight for PLDT Home Telpad with a combined 31-point output but the Turbo Boosters lost steam in the fourth and were outplayed by the Lady Troopers in the decider to bow out of the title race in the season-ending conference of the league backed by Mikasa and Accel.

Earlier, System Tooth and Gum Care primed up for its clash with Instituto Estetico Manila tomorrow as it trounced also-ran Rizal Technological U, 25-14, 25-19, 25-22, in a non-bearing match in men’s play.

Chris Antonio and Salvador Depante fired 14 and 11 points, respectively, as the Active Smashers played just good enough to dispose of the Thunder and tie the IEM Volley Masters in the lead at 4-1.

Systema and IEM dispute the top spot at the close of the elims tomorrow and will start their best-of-three series for the inaugural crown on Sunday.

Abdul Jaidal scored 11 hits while Paul Patrocenio added nine for RTU, which closed out its campaign with a 1-5 mark.

The Thunder will dispute third place with the Far Eastern U Tams on Tuesday, according to the organizing Sports Vision.