SSC spikers edge Army side, lead V-League

MANILA, Philippines -  Sandugo-San Sebastian kept the momentum of a big fourth-set surge and outfought Philippine Army in the decider to carve out a 25-16, 17-25, 17-25, 25-18, 15-10 decision and wrest the solo lead in the Shakey’s V-League Open at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium late Sunday.

The Lady Stags recovered from poor reception in the second and third sets then went to Jeng Bualee and Utaiwan Kaensing in the last two frames to complete their fightback from a set down and remain the only unbeaten team in the league’s mid-season conference.

The Thai duo combined for 40 hits, including 32 kills, as they overpowered the Lady Troopers with a 61-attack total as against the defending champions’ 46 with Bualee more than doubling her 10-hit output against Navy last Friday with a solid 22-point performance.

It was a sorry loss for the Army ladies, who pounced on the Lady Stags’ poor reception and scored 11 service aces, including four from Jacqueline Alarca and three from skipper Cristina Salak.

Alarca also teamed up with Joanne Bunag to control the net with seven blocks for the team’s total of 14 against Sandugo’s 11.

Michelle Carolino matched Bualee’s 22-point game while Rachel Ann Daquis and Alarca chipped in 12 hits apiece and Bunag added 10 markers for Army, which dropped to solo second at 3-1.

The win also lined up Sandugo-SSC for a sweep of the first round elims as it takes on winless Far Eastern U at 4 p.m. in today’s resumption of the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and backed by Accel and Mikasa.

Army, meanwhile, tries to recover lost ground as it battles Ateneo in the main dish at 6 p.m. while a resurgent Cagayan Valley clashes with Navy in the 2 p.m. opener.

The Rising Suns subdued the Lady Eagles in three, also last Sunday, to tie their victims at 2-2 while the Lady Sailors posted their first win after three losses with a five-set win over the Lady Tams.

Meanwhile, the Cagayan-Ateneo game will be shown on AKTV starting at 7 tonight to be followed by the Navy-FEU match while the Sandugo-Army clash will be aired tomorrow at 7 p.m., according to the organizing Sports Vision.

Games can be viewed live on streaming at www.v-league.ph.