Lady Troopers sweep Rising Suns, clinch V-League crown

MANILA, Philippines - Army may have seen the last of Tina Salak.

With retirement looming for the ace setter, Salak carried Army to another championship as the Lady Troopers overpowered the Cagayan Valley Rising Suns, 25-14, 25-7, 25-23, to complete an emphatic finals sweep of the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

Like in their 25-19, 18-25, 25-18, 25-7 Game One victory last Thursday, the Lady Troopers held the Rising Suns to another single-digit output in the second frame before battling back from two points down late in the third to carve out the win and complete the sweep of their best-of-three series.

One of the most senior players in the league at 38, Salak fired six hits while keeping Army’s talented roster of open spikers busy from all angles, producing 30 excellent sets as the Lady Troopers reclaimed the crown they won in Season 8 in 2011.

“I’m lucky to be blessed with great players,” said Army coach Rico de Guzman, who also boasts of former MVPs Rachel Ann Daquis, Mary Jean Balse and Nerissa Bautista plus a slew of role players in Genie Sabas, Joanne Bunag and Sarah Jane Gonzales.

But Salak has hinted at hanging up her jersey to give way to the other young players, including Gonzaga.

“I told coach that this may be my last,” said Salak, an Army Corporal who has been in the service for 17 years. “I’m training her (Gonzaga) as a setter and I see her taking my spot when I leave.”

Gonzaga, an education major at Central Phl U in Iloilo before joining Army after graduation, towed the Lady Troopers with 13 hits, including 12 kills to clinch her second Finals MVP.