Phil. Army grounds Air Force in Shakey's V-League

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Army survived some anxious moments in the second set as it steamrolled Air Force, 25-13, 25-22, 25-18, to jumpstart its title bid in the Shakey’s V-League Season 10 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan City Sunday.

After dominating the opening set, the Army Women blew an early lead in the second set and even trailed, 17-19, before Jovelyn Gonzaga turned things around to get the set and a comfortable 2-0 sets lead.

Air Force kept it close with a 10-all deadlock early in the third set but Army went on attack mode again while tightening its net defense in taking the deciding set and the fight out of the latter.

Gonzaga's star has shone the brightest for a team already oozing with the country's best and brightest volleybelles as she pumped in a match-high 16 hits including nine on kills and 6 on blocks.

Mary Jean Balse, a former UAAP MVP when he played college ball with the Santo Tomas Tigresses, scattered 11 hits including four service aces while Cristina Salak and Joanne Bunag chipped in nine apiece.

It was a win that put Army, one of the favorites to contend for the title this conference, as it remains one of the last three unbeaten teams. Navy, the last team in the eight-team cast, has not yet played a game this conference.

The Air Women, despite their second set challenge, just found the Army Women too hot to handle as the former were just too overwhelmed by the latter's attacking game and formidable net defense.

And Gonzaga, the long-limbed and flexible Ilonga who led Central Phl U of Iloilo to three-straight championships in the Nestea Beach Volley event in Boracay, was the anchor of Army on both ends of the floor.

Gonzaga did not only pepper Air Force with her power spikes, she also made some key hustle plays while forming the crux of Army's defense with her rocksolid blocking.

Air Force fell to its second straight defeat.