Army, Cagayan start V-League title tiff
MANILA, Philippines — Playing its potential for most of the tournament, Army wants to cap its dominance with a championship. Rising from the brink of elimination, Cagayan Valley is seeking a repeat of its triumphant campaign last year.
The Lady Troopers and Rising Suns start their best-of-three title series for the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Open Conference title Thursday at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Army and Cagayan took different paths to put themselves in position to take the crown. While the Lady Troopers had an almost trouble-free ride back to the finals, the Lady Rising Suns had to endure a rough stretch to survive.
Army swept Air Force in the semifinals, while Cagayan, which could have been eliminated in the quarterfinals, bucked the odds to oust PLDT Home Telpad in two games.
Odds are just about even between the league’s most fancied teams although the Lady Troopers appear to have the edge in manpower, owing to four Most Valuable Players in their lineup as well as a slew of veteran role players.
The Rising Suns have almost the same lineup when they recorded a 16-game sweep last season on their way to the crown.
But Cagayan also did not face a team of Army’s caliber last year. Rachel Ann Daquis, Jovelyn Gonzaga, MJ Balse and Nene Bautista are just four of the players who are capable of dominating the series for Army.
But the Lady Rising Suns also have an equally talented crew led by Aiza Maizo, Aiza Tabaquero, Pau Soriano and Shiela Pineda. PLDT Home Telpad and Air Force dispute third place in a separate best-of-three at 2 p.m. before the league honors the conference’s outstanding players.
The Lady Rising Suns are confident their fine form in the tailend of the quarterfinal round as well as the semifinals will continue against the Lady Troopers.
