Cagayan makes history after sweeping Smart to win V-League crown

MANILA, Philippines — All tried to beat Cagayan and all failed.

The Lady Rising Suns capped their dominating run with a fitting title after sweeping the Smart Net Spikers, 25-16, 19-25, 25-15, 22-25, 15-7 in the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference Championship Sunday night before a full house crowd at the Arena in San Juan.

“We didn’t expect this but this is what happens when everyone does their share for the team,” Cagayan head coach Nes Pamilar said in Filipino.

Cagayan became just the first team in the league to complete a 16-game sweep en route to the title.

“We’re in cloud nine. That’s the best description I can give you. 16-0 is a statement and we’re very happy,” said an overwhelmed Angeli Tabaquero, who delivered the title-clinching spike.

“Smart is a good contender. They deserve to be here in the finals. They gave us a good fight and mataas lang talaga morale ng team coming into this game,” added Tabaquero after scoring 18 points.

The Lady Rising Suns got all they could handle as the Net Spikers, powered by Dindin Santiago’s game-high 26 points, proved to be a tough nut to crack.

Cagayan took and blew a 22-20 lead in the fourth set as Santiago capped Smart’s rally with a kill that forged the fifth set.

But it was all Cagayan from there as the Lady Rising Suns zoomed to an 8-2 lead and never looked back.

“Before the start of fifth set siguro yung nasa isip lang namin we wanted to finish this game. We don’t want to extend [the series]. Pumunta kami dito para manalo. Sabi ni coach magkaisa lang kami inside the court and wag kami magkanya-kanya. Buti positive yung outcome ng game namin,” said Tabaquero. “Sabi niya kung mapuntusan kami, agad agad bumangon kami.”

Thai ace Kanniapka Thipachot led Cagayan with 24 points, including a spike that put the Lady Suns a championship point, 14-5.