Maynilad, Perpetual dispute last QF seat

MANILA, Philippines - Maynilad and Perpetual Help clash today in what promises to be another down-to-the-wire duel between two teams fighting for the last quarterfinal berth in the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan.

Odds are just about even for the Water Dragons and the Altas, who wound up with identical 1-5 slates after the single round eliminations, setting up the do-or-die setto at 2 p.m.

Maynilad outlasted Perpetual in a five-setter in their elims clash last Aug. 4, pulling off a thrilling 30-28 victory in the decider for the lone victory for the lone commercial team in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

The Altas, on the other hand, scored a surprising three-set win over Navy at the close of the elims last Thursday to force a sudden death for the sixth quarters seat in the tournament organized by Sports Vision.

While Maynilad and Perpetual fight for survival, Army and Navy collide at 4 p.m. to kick off the quarterfinal phase, another single round robin stage where the six teams will start from scratch. The other quarterfinalists are San Sebastian, Air Force and Ateneo.

The Army ladies held off the Lady Sailors in four in their elims showdown and went on to sweep their next four games before succumbing to San Sebastian in five at the close of the elims of the tournament backed by Accel, Mikasa and Maynilad Water.

With both teams coming off a pair of losses, expect Army and Navy to come out firing from all angles with Rachel Ann Daquis, Mary Jean Balse, Joanne Buñag, Cristina Salak and sisters Michelle and Marietta Carolino tipped to lead the Lady Troopers bid again.

Navy, on the other hand, will pin its hopes on former MVPs Nerissa Bautista and Suzanne Roces with support to come from Cecile Cruzada, Rosemarie Prochina, Michelle Laborte and Janet Serafica.

Meanwhile, American import Lauren Ford of SSC emerged the top scorer after the elims with an 18-hit norm in six games to power the Lady Stags to joint first with the Troopers. She was also the league’s No. 1 spiker with a 51 percent success performance and the top blocker with a total of 17 to firm up her bid for the MVP crown.

Aiza Maizo of Air Force finished No. 1 in scoring, just a shade behind Ford with a 17.5-hit clip followed closely by Ateneo’s Alyssa Valdez with a 17.3-hit average.

Army, on the other hand, was the top spiking team after the elims with a 35.34 percent success with SSC in second with 34.48 percent. The Lady Troopers also emerged as No. 1 in blocking with 2.30 average per set with Air Force in second with 2.14.