Lady Stags cruise to V-League final

THE San Sebastian Lady Stags swept the Philippine Navy in straight sets, 25-23, 25-18, 25-19, to barge into the finals of the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Thai import Jang Baulee came away with 23 hits, including 21 kills, as she finally took over for the Lady Stags after playing back-up to American Lauren Ford majority of the team’s campaign in the season-ending conference of the league.

Ford, the league’s leading scorer and spiker with an 18.9-point norm, still came through with 10 attacks while Jennifer Manzano scored three service aces and finished with 12 points for the Recoletos-based squad, which is seeking its first-ever crown in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

SSC, which also swept Navy, 25-20, 34-32, 25-22, in the opener of their best-of-three series last Sunday, bucked the presence of former MVP Aiza Maizo, who took the spot of the injured Nene Bautista in the Navy roster.

But Maizo failed to steer the team to the all-important victory although she still came out with a team-high 17 points, including 15 kills.  /Correspondent Jonas Panerio