Cagayan, Army survive tough Shakey’s VL tiffs

CAGAYAN Province sustained its amazing winning streak by bringing down another title contender in Smart-Maynilad in an epic five-setter last night in the Shakey’s V League Season 10 Open Conference at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Pushed to the limit by the game Net Spikers, the Lady Rising Suns rose to the challenge and came away with a pulsating 25-21, 22-25, 25-19, 17-25, 15-13 victory before a huge Sunday crowd.

National team stalwarts Aiza Maizo and Angeli Tabaquero combined for the last two points that sealed the victory and extended the Lady Rising Suns’ winning run to 10 matches.

Earlier, Philippine Army survived Philippine Air Force also in five sets, 25-22, 25-21, 19-25, 21-25, 15-13, to firm up its grip of the No. 2 spot heading into the semifinals.

The Army Women leaned on veteran Mary Jean Balse to hammer out the victory in two hours and seven minutes— the tournament’s longest match so far.

Balse, a former V League MVP, sparkled with 24 points—most of them coming in the decisive fifth set—while Jovelyn Gonzaga wound up with 17 hits for the Army Women, who improved to 9-1. The Net Spikers fell to 6-4, while the Air Women dropped to 5-5.

Unlike in their first round meeting which ended in a rout for the Rising Suns, the Net Spikers gave the league leaders all that they could handle before finally yielding in a match that lasted an hour and 57 minutes.

The Net Spikers came back from 9-12 down to tie the game at 13 in the fifth set, setting the stage for a dramatic finish punctuated by back to back kills from Tabaquero and Maizo.

“I’m glad that they have adjusted well with the team after getting international experience,” said Cagayan coach Nes Pamilar of the talented duo.

Thai reinforcement Kannika Tipachot led the Rising Suns with 22 hits, while Tabaquerro added 13. Maizo and Wenneth Eulalio chipped in 11 points each. Libero Jheck Dionela had 14 digs to anchor a solid Cagayan defense.

Alyssa Valdez wound up with 22 points for the Net Spikers, while Lithawat Kesinee had 15 and Gretchel Soltones finished with 12 hits with five coming from service aces.

The Army Women spoiled the game of Judy Ann Caballejo who tallied a personal best 29 points, 23  coming off attacks. Wendy Semana added 15 points for Air Force which lost its third straight.