SANDUGO’S Rhea Katrina Dimaculangan thwarts Cagayan’s Thai import Kunbang Pornpimol in last night’s title match. EDWIN BELLOSILLO
True to its word, Sandugo-San Sebastian came out to dominate Cagayan Valley in straight sets, 25-18, 25-22, 25-16, in Game 2 and capture the Shakey’s V-League Open championship last night at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Lady Stags peppered the Rising Suns with attacks from the top quartet of Jeng Bualee, Utaiwan Kaensing, Suzanne Roces and Nene Bautista to cruise to a 2-0 sweep of the best-of-three title series.
Bualee punched in 12 kills and a pair of service aces for a 14-point performance, while Roces and Kaensing fired 12 points each.
“I’m just happy and excited to win my first championship,” said Bualee, one of the league’s Thai imports, who captured the Finals Most Valuable Player plum.
Unlike in Game 1, where Sandugo had to go through a grueling five-set thriller against the league newcomer, the Lady Stags took off early in each frame and kept their poise every time the Rising Suns threatened within a point.
Bautista added 11 points for the Lady Stags, who closed out the match with a five-point cluster behind hits by Roces and Kaensing.
Bualee also starred with 26 points in Game 1, where the Lady Stags battled back from a set down twice before forging a thrilling 18-25, 29-27, 14-25, 25-13, 15-7 decision.
Philippine Army took third place following a runaway 25-17, 25-10, 25-18 victory over the short-handed Ateneo crew in the first game.
The victory leveled their own best-of-three series, 1-1, but the Lady Troopers took second runner-up honors due to a superior quotient.
Joanne Bunag scored all of her 12 points on kills to lead the the Lady Troopers, who also took advantage of the Lady Eagles’ spate of errors in Game 2.
Mayeth Carolina tossed in eight points, while Dahlia Cruz and Jovelyn Gonzaga combined for five of the Lady Troopers’ seven blocks before finishing with seven points each.
Playing minus several key players, including Fille Cainglet and Gretchen Ho, the Lady Eagles couldn’t pull off a repeat of their 25-21, 19-25, 22-25, 25-18, 15-13 victory in Game 1.