Army, Cagayan forge title duel

JANINE Marciano of Cagayan Valley tries to score off Sue Roces of PLDT in yesterday’s match at Filoil Flying V Arena. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Army and Cagayan Valley proved more than equal to the challenge in Game 2 as they completed a sweep of their respective semifinal series to forge a title duel in the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Open Conference at Filoil Flying V Arena.

With Rachel Anne Daquis rediscovering her lethal form, the Lady Troopers cruised to a 25-11, 25-20, 25-22 victory over Air Force for a
2-0 series win.

Daquis came back strong from a lethargic Game 1 performance, driving home 11 hits that was part of Army’s balanced offensive, which also saw Jovelyn Gonzaga fire 13 kills.

The Lady Rising Suns endured a tougher outing but pulled through just the same against a strengthened PLDT Home Telpad, 25-20, 12-25, 25-19, 26-24.

Game 1 of the finals is slated Thursday.

The Turbo Boosters inserted the touted duo of Dindin Santiago and Carmina Aganon into the lineup for Game 2 but it hardly mattered as the Lady Rising Suns sustained their solid play from Game 1.

Aiza Maizo prevailed in the duel of big hitters, delivering 18 kills for a 22-hit performance for the Lady Rising Suns, who also drew huge games from Pau Soriano and Janine Marciano with a combined 21 points.

“We’re not surprised that Santiago and Aganon played.  We were ready and we knew that it will be hard for them to gel fast,” said Cagayan coach Nes Pamilar. “So we concentrated on finding ways to limit Sue (Roces).”

Roces was held to 11 hits, but the Turbo Boosters stayed in the thick of the fight with a late blitz in the fourth set only to be undone by a controversial call at match point.

The Turbo Boosters fought back from a 17-23 deficit, tying the set at 24. Wenneth Eulalio scored to put Cagayan at match point before Santiago was called for a violation while going for a kill, enabling the Rising Suns to complete the win.