MANILA, Philippines—Defending their turf against a previously unbeaten foe, the Cagayan Rising Suns laid down the gauntlet trouncing the Philippine Army Lady Troopers in four sets 3-1, 27-25, 20-25, 25-23, 25-22.
Rising Sun Aiza Maizo put the icing on the cake with a quick tap shot that went through the Army defense after scintillating rallies in the fourth set.
Philippine Army got within one, 23-22, when Christina Salak rose high to block Rosemarie Vargas.
Vargas then got back at Salak scoring against the latter to give the Rising Suns a two-point bubble, 24-22.
Cagayan head coach Ernesto Pamilar said they would give their best effort and game plan against Army, who receives their first loss in the elimination round, with a 5-1 column.
“We always want to give our best, and put an emphasis on defense,” Pamilar said whose team gets to third place with a 4-1 card.
Nerissa Bautista ended a furious rally that saw multiple players hustle to the padded court with a quick attack cutting the Cagayan lead to two, 22-20.
Maizo paced the Rising Suns with 22 points while Janine Marciano came in second with 18.
Rosemarie Vargas and Paulina Soriano added nine apiece.
Rachel Ann Daquis led Army with 20 points with Bautista and Jovelyn Gonzaga adding 16 and 13 respectively.
Pamilar said that one of their focus was to tire the opposing team and use their defense.
“Our game plan was to strengthen our defense,” Pamilar said. “We know that once the rallies happen, we can tire them out.”
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