Air Force, Navy duel for survival

MANILA, Philippines - Air Force and Navy clash in a crucial tiff that could either clear or muddle up the semifinal race even as Maynilad tries to fight for dear life in the penultimate playdate of the quarterfinal round of the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference today at The Arena in San Juan.

Running fourth at 1-2, the Airwomen hope to pounce on the skidding Lady Sailors in their 4 p.m. encounter and assure themselves of a playoff for the last semis seat in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

At 1-3, Navy is in a must-win situation against a team it beat via a three-set romp in the elims last Aug. 14 although Air Force is coming off a big win over Maynilad last Sunday to revive its own semis bid.

Expect Maynilad to likewise pour it all out against Army in their 2 p.m. faceoff in a bid to keep its slim semis hopes alive.

Winless in three games in the single round phase, the Water Dragons need to sweep their last two games and hope that either two from Ateneo, Air Force and Navy won’t go over two wins to force a playoff for the last semis seat.

Already assured of a stint in the next round, Army might opt to conserve its energy for the tough Final Four battle although the Lady Troopers could still go a win to clinch the No. 1 spot in the semis.

Air Force’s Aiza Maizo will pit spiking skills against fellow former MVPs Nene Bautista and Suzanne Roces as the Airwomen continued to miss the services of the power-hitting Cherry Macatangay, who sustained injury midway through the elims of the tournament backed by Accel, Mikasa and Maynilad Water.

But Jennifer Manzano has stepped up for Air Force along with Liza Deramos, Amelia Guanco and Wendy Semama, who are all expected to raise their respective games a notch higher in today’s encounter for the all-important win.

Bautista and Roces, on the other hand, hope to draw solid backup from Michelle Laborte, Cecile Cruzada, Rose Prochina and Janet Serafica as the Lady Sailors shoot for a crucial win and a playoff for the last semis slot.

Joy Cases, meanwhile, tries to recover from a pair of mediocre games as she leads Maynilad against the fancied Army along with Nica Guliman, Mervic Mangui, Syvie Artates and Beverly Boto.