MANILA – Jaja Santiago and Saitama Ageo Medics pulled off a 25-21, 25-22, 20-25, 25-17 stunner over NEC Red Rockets in the 2021-22 V.League Division 1 women’s tournament on Sunday at the Kose Sports Park Gymnasium in Yamanashi.
The Chery Tiggo Crossovers standout tallied 21 points, on 16 attacks and five blocks, as the Ageo Medics improved to 16-10 to still have a shot on playoffs.
Brazilian reinforcement Lorenne Teixeira also made her presence felt for the Ageo Medics. She tallied 19 points, on 16 attacks, two blocks, and a service ace.
Yuka Sato chipped in 14 points, while fellow local volleybelles Mami Uchiseto and Kyoko Aoyagi contributed 13 and 12 markers, respectively, for Saitama.
The victory served as a bounce back for the Ageo Medics after suffering a 22-25, 25-23, 31-33, 12-25 loss to Hisamitsu Springs on Saturday, where the Filipina import was held to just seven points.
Sarina Koga struggled with just 14 points, including 13 attacks, while Nanami Hirose and Kasumi Nojima chipped in 10 and nine markers, respectively, for the Red Rockets.
Meanwhile, Marck Espejo and FC Tokyo suffered a harrowing 25-17, 27-29, 20-25, 27-29 defeat at the hands of league-leader Toray Arrows in the men’s division at the Sumida City Gymnasium.
The former Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles was once again benched by the FC Tokyo in the first three sets before being fielded in during the fourth frame to end up scoreless.
Bryan Bagunas, on the other hand, had another solid game but Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler still suffered its eighth consecutive defeat on Sunday afternoon.
The former National University Bulldogs star tallied 16 points, on 15 attacks and a block, in Weisse Adler’s 25-22, 25-23, 25-21 straight set defeat to Hiroshima./PN
