EXPECT Army to unload all its ammunition as it guns for another sweep of the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference crown against a PLDT Home Ultera side raring to wage a fightback in Game Two at The Arena in San Juan on Sunday.
Coach Rico de Guzman isn’t likely to tinker with the roster that defanged the erstwhile lethal Ultra Fast Hitters and keyed their Game One triumph on Thursday, knowing fully well that a single misstep could tilt the momentum to the other side in a war of attrition between the league’s best teams with equal strengths.
“We expect them to make some adjustment on their attack and defense but we’ll still focus on stopping Alyssa [Valdez],” said de Guzman, after steering the Lady Troopers to a come-from-behind 13-25, 25-23, 27-25, 25-22 win on Thursday. “But we’re also ready if they use her as a decoy since PLDT has other good, dependable players.”
With Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Jovelyn Gonzaga coming through with three swats each aside from leading the team’s attack with 13 kills, Army produced eight blocks as against PLDT’s six. Army also came away with 26 digs as against PLDT’s 23 with Gonzaga coming through with seven in a superb all-around game by the talented Iloilo hitter who also ran away with last year’s Finals MVP honors after Army swept Cagayan Valley in two without dropping a set.
But it was the Lady Troopers’ poise which came into fore in the series’ opener as they came back strong from a first-set blowout with veteran Nerissa Bautista stepping up and chipping in nine key hits, Mary Jean Balse adding seven markers and ace setter Tina Salak coming up with 32 excellent sets.
Still, expect the Ultra Fast Hitters to hit back and send the series into a winner-take-all affair next Sunday with Valdez and the rest all primed up for a big comeback coming off a two-day rest in the season-opening conference sponsored by Shakey’s and presented by PLDT Home Ultera.
The keenly awaited clash is set at 12:45 p.m. to be telecast live on GMA News TV Channel 11, according to the organizing Sports Vision. Game Three, if necessary, will be played on May 31.