JOVELYN Gonzaga showed the way for defending champion Philippine Army as the Lady Troopers handily beat Cagayan Valley, 25-16, 25-21, 25-22, on Sunday in the resumption of the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan.
The long break was a huge help for Gonzaga, who has been getting limited playing minutes in their previous matches due to a sprained ankle, and the former MVP led all scorers with 18 points as the Lady Troopers cruised to their fifth consecutive win.
Former MVPs Nene Bautista and Rachel Anne Daquis had 12 and 11 points, respectively, in a match that lasted an hour and 19 minutes.
Army cemented its hold of the second spot as the tournament resumed after a nine-day break to give way to the 2015 Asian Under 23 Women’s Championship.
PLDT (7-0), Army (6-1) and Cagayan Valley (5-2) are already assured semifinal berths.
Aiza Maizo-Pontillas scored 16 points for the Lady Rising Suns, who are still without injured skipper Angge Tabaquero (shoulder), while Janine Marciano sat out her third straight match due to a stressed left shin.
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