Perfect Suns sweep Spikers

A MAGICAL campaign ended in a blaze of glory for Cagayan Province last night.

Keeping their composure under pressure, the Lady Rising Suns completed a perfect season with a 25-16, 19-25, 25-15, 22-25, 15-7 victory over the Smart Maynilad Net Spikers that wrapped up their title series, 2-0, before an overflowing Sunday crowd at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Thai import Kannika Thipachot, Aiza Maizo and Angeli Tabaquero delivered key hits, while Pomia Soraya held the attack together and also came up with a terrific defensive game as the Lady Rising Suns completed a 16-game sweep—a first in the 10-year history of the league.

Showing supreme skills and composure belying her age, the 17-year-old Thipachot finished with 24 hits, while Tabaquero tallied 18, including the smash that sealed victory in two hours and seven minutes.

The 21-year-old Soraya had 53 excellent hits in the title-clinching win to wrest the Most Valuable Player award of the finals. Maizo had eight, but two came at crucial moments in the fifth set.

Earlier, Rachel Anne Daquis fired 17 hits as Philippine Army captured third place with a 25-18, 23-25, 25-23, 25-15 triumph over Philippine Air Force.

It wasn’t just the attack that clicked for the Rising Suns, who showcased tremendous court coverage that helped limit the Net Spikers’ vaunted attacking game. The solid floor defense allowed the Rising Suns to efficiently carry out their offense.

“We didn’t expect this (sweep), but this is what happens when everyone does their share for the team,” said coach Nes Pamilar, who won his first V-League crown as coach.  “I could not ask for more from them.”

“We treated this game like there was no tomorrow,” said Tabaquero.

Thipachot had 20 kills in just 54 attempts in a performance that left Pamilar in awe. Putting emphasis on their net defense, the Lady Rising Suns had 14 points off blocks.

Dragged into another five-setter, this time with the stakes higher, the Lady Rising Suns showed the kind of resolve that has become the trademark of their campaign.

The Lady Rising Suns got off to a quick 4-1 start, before consecutive hits from Tabaquero, Maizo and Thipachot extended the lead to 13-4 on Shiela Pineda’s service ace.

With Alyssa Valdez neutralized, Dindin Santiago, the former V-League MVP who was a doubtful starter in the finals due to commitments at National U, became the focal point of the Smart attack.

The ploy worked in the fourth set when the Net Spikers came back from a 20-22 deficit to force a decider.

Suzanne Roces fired an ace and back-to-back errors from Thipachot and Wenneth Eulalio put Smart in front, 23-22, before Kesinee Lithawat and Santiago completed the comeback.