THE PHILIPPINE Army got past Ateneo to claim the second finals berth yesterday to arrange a return bout with powerhouse Vietnam in the V-League Invitational Club Championship at The Arena in San Juan.
The Troopers played just well enough to eliminate the Lady Eagles, getting the job done in 64 minutes via a 25-13, 25-9, 25-17 romp that sent them into a winner-take-all match with the Vietnamese for the crown.
The Shakey’s V-League Season 8 second conference champions actually pounced on the sidelining of Ateneo’s top hitter Alyssa Valdez, who sustained a shoulder injury and had to cut short her stint after scoring three points.
Vietnam, powered by two Russian hitters, clinched the first finals seat in the four-team tournament sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza as early as last Friday when it subdued Army, 25-20, 25-23, 25-23.
But the Troopers vented their ire on the Eagles, whom they dominated from start to finish./Correspondent Jonas Panerio