DINDIN Santiago soars for a kill. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Cagayan Province showed steely resolve in the fifth set to down Smart-Maynilad, 26-24, 25-11, 23-25, 11-25, 15-12, last night and move on the brink of completing a perfect campaign in the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The Lady Rising Suns regrouped after dropping the third and fourth frames, leaning on a solid net defense to neutralize the Net Spikers and stretch their unbeaten run in the conference to 15 matches.
Thai reinforcement Kannika Thipachot fired 25 points, while Angeli Tabaquero finished with 16 for the Lady Rising Suns, who can wrap up a dream campaign with a victory in Game 2 on Sunday.
Thipachot fired a crucial kill to end the first set, before the Rising Suns flashed their ruthless form to take a two-sets to love lead.
The Net Spikers turned the game around behind Rubie De Leon and Kesinee Lithawat, who paced Smart with 20 hits out of 30 attempts.
Smart got a boost just before the game when National U had a change of heart and allowed Dindin Santiago to see action for the Net Spikers. The 6-foot-2 Santiago finished with 12 points.
Limiting the usually explosive Alyssa Valdez to just seven points proved to be the key for the Rising Suns, who wrapped up the victory in just under two hours.
Earlier, Philippine Army walloped Philippine Air Force, 26-24, 29-27, 25-21, to also take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series for third place.
Adjudged Most Valuable Player of the tournament later, Jovelyn Gonzaga scattered 15 hits, while Mary Jean Balse and Rachel Anne Daquis wound up with 11 and 10 respectively.
Gonzaga was also adjudged best attacker, while Thipachot won best scorer. The best blocker award went to Maureen Ouano of Meralco, while Balse was named best server. Cedelf P. Tupas