Maynilad stuns Army, keeps head above water

MANILA, Philippines - Maynilad succeeded where four other teams had failed, beating Philippine Army, 26-24, 25-18, 18-25, 25-18, yesterday to keep its flickering hopes alive in the quarterfinal round of the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan.

It was only Maynilad’s very first win after losing its first three games in the single round phase but it revived the Water Dragons’ slim hopes for a playoff for the fourth and last semifinal berth in the tournament sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

The lone commercial team in the league surprised the Lady Troopers with a win in an extended first-set encounter then sustained their form in the next. Although the fancied Army squad, the first of two semifinalists, bounced back with an imposing victory in the third set, the Water Dragons fought back in the fourth, breaking away from a tight contest to build leads of 17-11 and 22-14 before completing the big reversal.

Despite the loss, the Lady Troopers remained on top with a closing 4-1 card although the San Sebastian Lady Stags can match it and force a playoff for the No. 1 spot in the Final Four with a victory over Maynilad in tomorrow’s close of the quarters of the tournament backed by Accel, Mikasa and Maynilad Water.

“I used all my players and told them to just enjoy the game. And they all played well and they cashed in on Army’s poor reception,” said Maynilad coach Joseph Santos in Filipino.

Maynilad, however, must beat the other semifinalist, San Sebastian, and hope that either two from Air Force, Navy or Ateneo, won’t go over two wins.

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

With Joy Cases and Mervic Mangui combining for 33 kills, the Water Dragons outhit the Troopers, 57-31. They also had more blocks (12-8) and made seven points off the serve as against Army’s six.

Cases finished with 21 hits while Syvie Artates stood at the forefront of Maynilad’s net defense with eight blocks.

Artates finished with 20 points while Mangui added 13 and Ma. Josephine Cafranca, Nica Guliman and Margarita Pepito pooled 16 points.

The power-hitting sister tandem of Michelle and Marietta Carolino combined for 18 attacks and 22 points while Mary Jean Balse backed them up with 10 hits.

Army coach Rico de Guzman also opted to rest his other starters for the tough grind ahead as Rachel Ann Daquis played for just two sets and finished with three points. Dahlia Cruz had seven hits in a three-set stint while Joanne Bunag made just five points.