Maynilad gains last QF slot in V-League

MANILA, Philippines - Maynilad changed its coach and changed its game for the better, scoring a 25-16, 25-22, 25-17 victory over Perpetual Help in their playoff for the last quarterfinal berth in the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Joy Cases fired 11 hits for a 12-point performance while Syvie Artates added 11 hits, including eight attacks, as the Water Dragons turned in a more organized, inspired game to subdue the Altas and keep their title hopes alive in the inaugural Open tournament of the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

It was actually Maynilad’s second win over Perpetual although the lone commercial squad in the seven-team tournament, backed by Accel, Mikasa and Maynilad Water, needed five sets to topple the Altas in the elims clash under then coach HJ Sacramento, last Aug. 4.

Joseph Santos, meanwhile, took over and called the shots for Maynilad yesterday and delivered the goods as he drew superb games from almost everybody – in offense, reception and net and floor defense.

“We’re still adjusting (with our new coach), in our moves, transition and defense. But we promise to play better in the quarters and play as a team,” said Cases, who emerged the best player of the game, in Filipino.

Nica Guliman banged in the last two hits for Maynilad, including a kill into the corner that ended the 1:14 encounter that featured long rallies in the tightly fought second set.

Guliman finished with seven hits, the same output put in by Beverly Boto while setter Charisse Ancheta, Mervic Mangui, Melissa Mirasol and Margarita Pepito combined for 11 points for the Water Dragons.

Thai import Piyatida Lasungnern unloaded a game-high 16 hits for the Altas, which failed to get any other double-digit score from the rest with April Sartin and Sandra delos Santos settling for seven hits apiece and Honey Tubino held to just six points.

The Maynilad-Perpetual game will be shown today at 2 p.m. on NBN-4 and on GMA-7’s international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA LifeTV and GMA News TV.