Perpetual, Maynilad eye last quarterfinal seats

MANILA, Philippines - Perpetual Help tries to buck the odds and force a playoff for the last quarterfinal berth as it battles fancied Philippine Navy today while Maynilad hopes to formalize its stint in the next round against Air Force in the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan.

Winless in five games, the Altas need no less than a victory over the joint second running Lady Sailors in their 2 p.m. showdown although their chances still hinge on a loss by Maynilad (1-4) to Air Force in the 6 p.m. main game.

Only one team will be dropped after the elims with the six remaining squads clashing in the quarters, another single round robin phase with the top four advancing to the Final Four. The No. 1 will then meet the No. 4 squad while Nos. 2 and 3 dispute the other finals berth in a pair of best-of-three series.

Focus will also be on the 4 p.m. duel between Army and San Sebastian with the former going for a sweep of the elims and the latter eyeing a share of top spot and the momentum heading to the tough quarterfinal round of the tournament sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and backed by Accel, Mikasa and Maynilad Water.

It will be a clash of power and net defense with Army expected to showcase its vaunted firepower behind sisters Michelle and Marietta Carolino, Joanne Buñag, Mary Jean Balse, Dahlia Cruz and the talented Rachel Ann Daquis.

But the Lady Stags primed up for the big game by winning their last three matches with the league’s leading spiker American import Lauren Ford, with a 53 percent success performance after six games, Thai reinforcement Jang Baulee, Joy Benito, Rubie de Leon, Janet Doria, Jill Gustilo, and top receiver Mary Jane Pepito expected to raise their respective games a notch higher.

Meanwhile, the Navy-Maynila match last Tuesday will be shown on NBN 4 starting at 2 p.m. today and on GMA-7’s international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA LifeTV and GMA News TV, according to the organizing Sports Vision. 

Honey Tubino, Sandra delos Santos, April Sartin, Norie Diaz, April Hingpit, Bei Argarin and Thai imports Wirawan Sattayanuchit and Piyatida Lasungnern hope to put it all together for Perpetual one last time against a team that has swept its last four games via straight-set victories.

But with their backs against the wall, the Altas may just spring a surprise against the Navy spikers in the final elims playdate of the season-ending tournament of the league.

The Lady Sailors, however, have reached top form since dropping a four-setter to unbeaten Army last Aug. 2, winning their next four games in impressive fashions with former MVPs Nene Bautista and Suzanne Roces and veteran Michelle Laborte leading the way.

The Water Dragons, on the other hand, seek an end to a three-game skid behind Joy Cases, Syvie Artates, Mervic Mangui and Nica Guliman against an Air Force side coming off a loss to Navy last Sunday.