PNP, Navy dispute last q’final berth

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police and Navy slug it out today for the last quarterfinal seat even as Army tries to bolster its record against ousted Far Eastern U at the close of the Shakey’s V-League 10 Open Conference elimination round at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Patrolers and the Sailors beat just one opponent – the Lady Tams – to head to their 4 p.m. match with similar 1-5 slates with the winner joining Cagayan Province, Army, Air Force, Smart and Meralco in the next round.

But with their elims record carried over to the quarters, the winner in the PNP-Navy duel will have a lot of catching up to do when the next stage is held starting Sunday.

While Navy disposed of FEU in three, PNP needed four sets to topple the Lady Tams but the Patrolers seem to have the edge in manpower with Janine Marciano and Frances Molina among the league’s 10 leading scorers.

Thai reinforcement Sangmuang Patcharee has also beefed up PNP’s frontline with coach Bob Malenab also boasting of setter Ana Concepcion, Ghileen Labrador, Kristine Dave and libero Mae Tadeo.

Navy player-coach Zenaida Chavez will again pin her hopes on veterans Michelle Laborte and Rose Prochina, also the team’s assistant coach, with support from Chris Rosale, Aileen Suson, setter Janeth Serafica and libero Michelle Simbajon.

Army, meanwhile, is a cinch to get past FEU in their 2 p.m. duel, seeking to get into the next round with a 6-1 record, just behind the unbeaten Rising Suns, who swept the eight-team elims phase in the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s and backed by Mikasa and Accel.