Games Thursday

2 p.m. – Cagayan vs Meralco (best-of-three for third)

4 p.m. – PLDT vs Army (best-of-three for title)

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

Jovelyn Gonzaga dished out a superb all-around performance as Army wore down Cagayan Valley, 25-23, 26-24, 25-17, Tuesday to arrange a showdown with powerhouse PLDT Home Ultera for the Shakey’s V-League Season 12-Open Conference crown at The Arena in San Juan City.

Gonzaga rammed in 10 kills and came away with six blocks to finish with 16 hits with last year’s MVP capping her game-long brilliance with nine digs to power the Lady Troopers to the one-hour and 22-minute romp and on track of their title-retention bid in the season-opening conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.

Army’s ace setter Tina Salak (7) foils Cagayan Valley’s Aiza Maizo-Pontillas’ tip as Lady Trooper Mary Jean Balse tries to provide help during their showdown for the second finals berth in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan.
Army’s ace setter Tina Salak (7) foils Cagayan Valley’s Aiza Maizo-Pontillas’ tip as Lady Trooper Mary Jean Balse tries to provide help during their showdown for the second finals berth in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan.

Dragged into another five-setter, this time by ousted Meralco, PLDT Home Ultera leaned on its key players to eke out a 22-25, 25-15, 21-25, 25-16, 18-16 victory and preserve its unbeaten run heading to the best-of-three finals.

Alyssa Valdez came off the bench to fire 23 hits, including 21 on attacks, while top blocker Jaja Santiago went on attack mode again and banged away 19 points as the Ultra Fast Hitters fended off the Power Spikers’ upset bid to stretch its streak to 10.

Aby Maraño and Maica Morada combined to help power Meralco to victories in the first and third sets but Valdez and company proved steadier in the decider to snatch the win.

Earlier, Honey Royse Tubino also stepped up to fire 14 hits, including 10 attacks, two blocks and two aces, while Mary Jean Balse and Dindin Manabat backing them with 11 and 10 points, respectively, and ace spiker Rachel Ann Daquis adding eight hits.

Army’s Honey Royse Tubino (right) bangs away a spike against Cagayan Valley’s Wenneth Eulalio and Pau Soriano during their faceoff for the second finals berth in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan.
Army’s Honey Royse Tubino (right) bangs away a spike against Cagayan Valley’s Wenneth Eulalio and Pau Soriano during their faceoff for the second finals berth in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan.

“She’s been one of our key players and we wouldn’t have reached this far without her,” said Army coach Rico de Guzman, referring to the fiery Iloilo southpaw.

But Gonzaga – and the rest of the Lady Troopers – will have to double their effort when they face the Ultra Fast Hitters in the opener of their best-of-three title duel Thursday.

PLDT thus finished the single round semis with a 3-0 card while Army ended up with a 2-1 mark and Cagayan and Meralco finished with 1-2 and 0-3, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Army-Cagayan match will be shown at 1 p.m. Wednesday on GMA News TV Channel 11 with the PLDT-Meralco tiff to be aired tomorrow, according to the organizing Sports Vision.