Ortiz lifts Air Force past PLDT in Shakey's V-League

Games Tuesday

(The Arena, San Juan)

2 p.m. – Cagayan vs NU

4 p.m. – Army vs Ateneo

MANILA, Philippines – Philippines Air Force went to Maika Ortiz in the fifth and deciding set as it turned back PLDT Home Telpad, 25-21, 22-25, 17-25, 28-26, 15-8, to bolster its Final Four bid in the Shakey's V-League Season 11 Open Conference quarterfinals at The Arena in San Juan City on Sunday.

Ortiz took over in the fifth set with key kills and finished with a team-high 19, helping seal the Raiders their seventh win against four defeats, or just one win away from advancing to the semifinals of this tournament sponsored by Shakey's.

Judy Caballejo, Joy Cases and Sandra delos Santos provided Ortiz the needed backup and scattered 16, 13 and 11 hits, respectively.

Air Force coach Clarence Esteban later said the key was letting the players decide for themselves during the game.

"I just let them play," said Esteban in Filipino. "I let them do that because no matter what I said, they're not listening.

"I just told them even if we play bad as long as we win, it's okay. But of course, it's nice to win games by playing well," he added.

While boosting its semis stock, Air Force also foiled PLDT from clinching the first berth to the Final Four with the big win.

For a while though, Air Force looked in control with its well-coordinated attacks and solid court coverage getting it the opening set.

But the Raiders started to flounder as the Turbo Boosters clamped down on the former's spikers while going on an attacking spree themselves – anchored on the power-spiking troika of Suzanne Roces, Gretchel Soltones and Angela Benting – to seize the next two sets, the lead and momentum.

It turned out to be PLDT's last hurrah as Air Force emerged from a closely fought fourth set and Ortiz taking charge in the decider to nail the win.

Roces led all hitters with 28 including 23 on attacks while Soltones pounded all her 21 hits on spikes.

Benting wound up chipping in 12.

None of the three though showed up in the fifth set when PLDT needed them most as the Turbo Boosters fell to 7-3.