PLDT repulses Meralco, clinches 3rd

MANILA, Philippines -  PLDT Home Telpad snapped out of a fourth-set slump and smothered Meralco in the decider, coming away with a 25-20, 26-28, 25-20, 19-25, 15-8 victory to clinch third place in women’s play of the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Third Conference at The Arena in San Juan last night.

Former MVP Sue Roces unloaded a match-high 23 hits and Gretchel Soltones provided the needed backup of 17 points as the Turbo Boosters recovered from a fourth set loss by dominating the decider to wrap up their best-of-three series, 2-0, for third in the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.

But Rizal Technological U pulled through in a tightly fought first set duel then clipped Far Eastern U in the next two to carve out a 36-34, 25-19, 25-22 victory and force a sudden death for third in the men’s division of the league backed by Mikasa and Accel.

The Blue Thunder yielded four more spikes to the Tams’ 44-smash output but made six blocks and rammed in five aces to finally end a three-game losing skid to the former UAAP champions and stay in the hunt for second runner-up honors in the season-ending tournament of the league sponsored by Shakey’s and backed by Mikasa and Accel.

“The boys were a little bit pressured in Game One so I told them to relax,” said RTU coach George Pascua.

RTU could clinch third place if Systema sweeps Instituto Estetico Manila in Game Two of their title series on Sunday. But if Instituto forces a deciding Game Three, RTU and FEU will dispute third place in a playoff on Tuesday, according to the organizing Sports Vision.

Meralco looked headed for a big comeback after sending the match into a deciding fifth set but PLDT Home Telpad put its act together in time as the Turbo Boosters reasserted their mastery over the Power Spikers whom they swept in four games in the tournament.

Stephanie Mercado fired 21 points and Maica Morada stepped up with 16 makrers and Maura Ouano and Abby Marano each had 10 markers apiece. But Thai reinforcement Wanida Kotruang struggled for four hits in a three-set stint and Japanese setter Misao Tanyama finished with nine points for the Power Spikers.

PLDT overwhelmed Meralco, 72-56, in spikes but the Power Spikers came through with 14 blocks as against the Power Boosters’ measly two although PLDT knocked in six aces as against its rival’s one.