Champion Infinity found out that they weren’t champions yet and they’re not infinite either as Cagayan Valley stopped them cold in five sets 23-25, 24-26, 25-22, 25-21, 16-14 in the hotly-contested opener of Spikers’ Turf Sunday morning at San Juan Arena.
Champion took their name in motion with a commanding 2-0 set lead and looked to clean up Cagayan in the third but collegiate stars Marck Espejo of Ateneo and Peter Torres from National University teamed up in a very odd way to power Cagayan in their opener of the tournament.
In the three ensuing sets, Cagayan put Champion at their mercy as they rose from the first lost sets.
Espejo and Torres led the way for Cagayan scoring 24 and 16 points respectively.
Cagayan’s young duo was determined not to give away their first game of the tournament as their combined 33 spikes catapulted Cagayan.
Jan Paglinawan and Rex Intal added a combined 18 points for Cagayan.
Joven Camaganakan led Champion Infinity with 26 points while Christopher Antonio and Alnasip Laja combined for 23.