THE MAYNILAD Water Dragons captured the last slot in the quarterfinals after they swept the Perpetual Help Lady Altas, 25-16, 25-22, 25-17, in the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.
Joy Cases fired 11 hits for a 12-point performance while Syvie Artates added 11 hits, including eight attacks, as the Water Dragons turned in a more organized, inspired game to subdue the Altas and keep their title hopes alive in the inaugural Open tournament of the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.
It was actually Maynilad’s second win over Perpetual although the lone commercial squad in the seven-team tournament, backed by Accel, Mikasa and Maynilad Water, needed five sets to topple the Altas in the elims clash under then coach HJ Sacramento, last Aug. 4.
Joseph Santos, meanwhile, took over and called the shots for Maynilad yesterday and delivered the goods as he drew superb games from almost everybody – in offense, reception and net and floor defense.
Nica Guliman banged in the last two hits for Maynilad, including a kill into the corner that ended the 1:14 encounter that featured long rallies in the tightly fought second set. Guliman finished with seven hits, the same output put in by Beverly Boto while setter Charisse Ancheta, Mervic Mangui, Melissa Mirasol and Margarita Pepito combined for 11 points for the Water Dragons. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio