Army downs Cagayan in Shakey’s

Game Tomorrow (The Arena, San Juan) 9 a.m. – Cavite vs Air Force (Spikers) 2 p.m. – PLDT vs IEM (Spikers) 4 p.m. – Meralco vs Coast Guard (VLeague) 6 p.m. – Cignal vs Champion (Spikers)

Defending champion Army outclassed Cagayan Valley, 25-16, 25-21, 25-22, and settled for second place at the close of its elims campaign in the Shakey’s VLeague Season 12 Open Conference yesterday at The Arena in San Juan.

Former Most Valuable Players Jovelyn Gonzaga, Nene Bautista and Rachel Daquis sparkled for the Lady Troopers who needed just 73 minutes to dismantle the Lady Rising Suns and finish the elims with a 6-1 record.

Gonzaga topscored with 18 points built on 13 kills, three blocks and two service aces, Bautista had 12 points while Daquis added 11 markers for Army, which won its fifth straight since losing to unbeaten league-leader PLDT home Ultera last month.

The victory also snapped Cagayan’s three-game winning streak.

Cagayan dropped to third place at 5-2 but had already secured a semifinals berth before the league took a oneweek break to give way to the country’s hosting of the Asian U-23 Women’s Volleyball Championship.

Aiza Maizo-Pontillas scored 16 points for Cagayan, which is still without skipper Angeli Tabaquero and Janine Marciano due to injuries.

In the other game, Meralco walloped Fourbees-Perpetual Help, 25-11, 25-12, 25-14, to keep its semifinal bid alive. The Power Spikers improved to 3-3 for a halfgame lead over the Navy Lady Sailors for the fourth-and-final semis berth.

Meanwhile, PLDT Home Ultera outlasted Air Force, 25-23, 25-27, 25-19, 32-30, to earn at least a playoff for the last semifinals berth in the Spikers’ Turf men’s volleyball tournament.