Race to Shakey’s V-League semis heats up

Games today

2 p.m. – PNP vs Army

4 p.m. – Smart vs Air Force

Standings            W            L

Cagayan               7              0

Army            6       1

Air Force              5              2

Smart                    4      3

Meralco               3              4

PNP              2     5

MANILA, Philippines - Army and Air Force seek to repeat over their respective rivals and fuel their Final Four drive as action in the Shakey’s V-League Season 10 Open Conference heats up with the quarterfinal round at The Arena in San Juan today.

The Army Women swept the Philippine National Police Patrolers in their elims showdown last Sept. 3 and went on to finish second to the unbeaten Cagayan Province Rising Suns (7-0) with a 6-1 slate in the carryover quarters. Another win over PNP in their 2 p.m. showdown will firm up Army’s hold of the No. 2 spot in the single round phase among six teams.

The Patrolers, who nipped the Navy Sailors in four for the last quarters berth last Friday, are hard-pressed to score wins in bunches with a 2-5 carryover card and stay in the Final Four hunt.

The Air Women also posted a three-set win over the then undermanned Net Spikers last Sept 6 that highlighted the team’s impressive five-win binge after dropping their first two matches in the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.

But with ace hitter Alyssa Valdez and Thai reinforcement Lithawat Kesinee now back for Smart-Maynilad, the Net Spikers are raring to get back at the Air Women and bolster their own 4-3 record for a crack at one of the semifinal berths.

Although Smart-Maynilad dropped a heartbreaking five-setter to Army with Valdez and Kesinee in the fold last Sunday, the Net Spikers remain a force to reckon with, guaranteeing a slambang action between two of the fancied teams in the league backed by Mikasa and Accel.