Unable to snatch a victory in its last three games, VNS-One Alicia clinched the one that mattered most in its Spikers’ Turf elims campaign, repulsing Army, 25-20, 25-16, 26-28, 25-21, to book the last semis berth in the Open Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila on Tuesday.
The Griffins missed capping their fightback from nine points down to force extension in the third set with a service error and a Madz Gampong ace that had appeared to land past the baseline. But they took the bad break in stride and buckled down to work in the fourth to frustrate the Troopers and keep their title bid alive.
VNS, which lost three straight to Cignal, Sta. Elena and Navy, thus finished with a 3-3 card to join early semifinalists National U-Sta. Elena, Cignal and Navy while sending Army to the sidelines with Santa Rosa and Ateneo, which all finished with 1-5 slates.
With Ish Polvorosa orchestrating the mix of plays, Kim Malabunga blended well with Ben San Andres, Uriel Mendoza, Kevin Montemayor and Ron Adviento as they combined for 66 points, including 56 on attacks.
Army finished with 43 attack points, led by Gampong’s 13-point output while Diwa added 11 points with veterans PJ Rojas and Benjaylo Labide settled for a combined 15-point showing.
The Troopers threatened last at 21-24 on a Mendoza backrow attack error but JD Diwa served into the net in an anti-climactic ending to a match that started out in see-sawing fashion until the Griffins pulled away from a 16-15 count on a 9-5 closing run to take the first set.
They sustained their charge in the second but made a lackluster start in the third, somewhat aiding the Troopers’ big surge the latter nearly blew with a scrambling finish.
