Games Thursday

2 p.m. – Fourbees vs Coast Guard

4 p.m. – Cagayan vs Baguio

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

Charleen Cruz flaunted her spiking and blocking skills as Meralco swept Navy, 25-20, 25-21, 25-21, to join Cagayan Valley and PLDT Home Ultera in the early lead in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12-Open Conference elims at The Arena in San Juan City Tuesday.

Army, with Rachel Ann Daquis firing 16 hits, posted a more impressive win later in the day, pummeling Fourbees-Perpetual Help, 25-8, 25-10, 25-11, to force a four-way tie for the lead. Honey Royse Tubino also scored nine points against the very same team she helped power to multiple NCAA volley crowns.

Cruz punched in eight kills and came through with five blocks and finished with 15 hits to lead the Power Spikers to the straight-set win. Maica Morada and Aby Marano combined for 25 points while skipper Stephanie Mercado added eight, including two blocks, as Meralco foiled Navy’s bid for a second straight win after a 26-24, 25-14, 25-18 victory over Coast Guard last Sunday.

Cha Cruz of Meralco hits a smash against Diane Ticar of Navy during the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference duel at The Arena in San Juan.
Cha Cruz of Meralco hits a smash against Diane Ticar of Navy during the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference duel at The Arena in San Juan.

Rookie setter Angela Legacio also shone for Meralco as the top playmaker from NCAA champion Arellano University put up 35 excellent sets to anchor the team’s romp in the event presented by PLDT Home Ultera and backed by Mikasa and Accel.

“She’s a great addition to the team. She is what our team needs,” said Meralco coach Brian Esquivel.

The Power Spikers smashed a total of 38 kills and had nine blocks while producing an impressive 12-ace effort behind Morada’s six and Mercado’s two.

It was Meralco’s first win since losing all its eight matches in the last year’s Reinforced Conference won by Cagayan Valley.

Veteran Norie Diaz and Jolina Labiano fired eight hits apiece while team captain Lilet Mabbayad had seven points for the Lady Sailors, who made 31 kills but just got two blocks and three aces to fall to 1-1 in the season-opening conference of the league where it all started.

Fourbees-Perpetual, meanwhile, dropped to 0-2.

The Meralco-Navy clash will be shown on GMA News TV Channel 11 starting at 1 p.m. today with the Army-Fourbees duel, being played at presstime, to be telecast tomorrow, according to the organizing Sports Vision.