Games tomorrow

9 a.m. – Air Force vs Cignal

11 a.m. – Cagayan vs Cavite

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

Philippine Army pulled off a tough four-set victory over Instituto Estetico Manila while PLDT Home Ultera overpowered Cavite in three as they joined opening day winner Cagayan Valley in the early lead in the Spikers’ Turf at The Arena in San Juan Tuesday.

The Troopers drew big games from skipper Ian Depamaylo, Patrick Rojas and Benjaylo Davide and setter Manolo Refugia as they outlasted the Volley Masters in a duel of power hits, quick plays and blocks, scoring a 25-16, 22-25, 26-24, 25-19 victory and serving notice of their title bid in the inaugural event presented by PLDT Home Ultera.

Depamaylo unloaded 14 hits, including 12 on attacks, while Labide and Rojas turned in 12 points apiece. Antonio Torres and Gregorio Dolor chipped in eight markers each for the Troopers, who edged the Volley Masters in spikes, 51-49, blocks, 10-9, and service aces, 4-3.

IEM, which ruled the Shakey’s V-League four-team men’s tournament late last year, looked headed for a big rebound after winning the second set but the Volley Masters dropped an extended third set battle then failed to recover in the next, enabling the Troopers to clinch the victory in one hour and 47 minutes.

Jason Canlas matched Depamaylo’s 14-hit effort while Kirk Beliran, Jeffrey Jimenez and Evan Raymundo added 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Volley Masters, who struggled a bit on their set plays, producing just 19 excellent sets against their rivals’ 28.

Earlier, PLDT Home Ultera waylaid the Cavite Patriots Fourbees, 25-19, 25-17, 25-10, with Kheeno Franco and John Paul Torres combining for 25 hits.

PLDT unleashed a 42-kill performance, 14 more than Cavite, and came away with 11 blocks, six more than the Fourbees. The fancied team also produced four service aces en route to their 61-minute romp in the event backed by Mikasa.

Neil Ytorzaita scored 10 hits for Cavite, which also drew seven markers from Christopher David and six from Julius Sioson.

Meanwhile, the PLDT-Cavite duel will be shown on PTV 4 at 10:30 tonight (Wednesday) while the Army-IEM clash will be aired tomorrow, according to the organizing Sports Vision.