PH Navy leans on Soriano to ground Kia Forte in V-League

MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine Navy relied on a solid effort of Pau Soriano and its net defense as it grounded KIA Forte, 25-18, 25-23, 25-21, Sunday to stay in the semifinals hunt in the Shakey's V-League Season 12-Reinforced Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.

Soriano, formerly of Cagayan Valley and who played college ball for Adamson, fired a match-best 14 hits including 11 on attacks while Lilet Mabbayad, Norie Jane Diaz and Pauline May Genido chipped in nine, eight and seven, respectively.

The seasoned Soriano also teamed with Genido at the net as the two combined for six of Navy's nine blocks to help slow down KIA's attack while sealing the former its second win in three starts.

"She (Soriano) played well and our blocking worked," said Naby coach Zenaida Chavez.

It was Navy's second straight triumph following a 25-20, 25-23, 25-21 win over Coast Guard last week.

The Lady Sailors lost their opening day game to the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons, 25-19, 23-25, 23-25, 23-25, on Oct. 10.

Sheila Marie Pineda, back as a spiker after dabbling as a libero, paced her team with 11 , eight of it from spikes, but none of her teammates scored more than five points as KIA fell to its second loss in a row.

The Oliver Almandro-mentored KIA Lady Spikers, formed just a week before the start of the conference, dropped their first game to the Army Lady Troopers, 15-25, 18-25, 11-25, on Oct. 11.