Cagayan survives Smart-Maynilad in V-League thriller

MANILA, Philippines — Cagayan Valley earned its 10th victory the hard way, outlasting Smart-Maynilad, 25-21, 22-25, 25-19, 17-25, 15-13, Sunday night in the 10th Shakey’s V-League Open Conference.

Neither team had a clear cut edge throughout as the Lady Rising Suns and Net Spikers picked up two sets each to go to a deciding fifth set — where it was also knotted at 13.

Cagayan then seized the last two points to seal the victory for a pristine record in the tournament to the delight of a jampacked Arena in San Juan.

Thai reinforcement Kannika Thipachot sizzled with 22 points, all but two from kills, to pace the Lady Rising Suns while skipper Angeli Tabaquero added 13.

The usually undermanned Smart-Maynilad had additional firepower in Alyssa Valdez, who provided her team with 22 points. Lithawat Kesinee chipped in 15.

But the Net Spikers still fell short in stunning Cagayan and dropped to 6-4.