Cagayan, Army try to seal Shakey’s V-L title series

BUOYED by impressive wins the last time out, Cagayan Valley and Army try to arrange a championship duel when they gun for a sweep of their respective semifinal series today in the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Open Conference at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Rising Suns seek a return to the finals when they battle the PLDT Turbo Boosters at 2 p.m., before the Lady Troopers go for the jugular against the Air Force Spikers at 4.

Cagayan and Army came away with comfortable four-set wins last Thursday.

But finishing off the Turbo Boosters and the Air Spikers today is easier said than done.

“We just have to stay strong mentally in Game 2,” said Army coach Rico De Guzman in Filipino.

The Lady Troopers got an unlikely lift from Joanne Bunag and Genie Sabas in Game 1 when leading scorer Rachel Ann Daquis struggled. MJ Balse and Nene Bautista proved steady under pressure, boosting the Lady Troopers during crucial moments.

“She looked tired (in Game 1) but I expect her to bounce back in Game 2, said De Guzman, referring to Daquis who only had four points in the series opener.

Air Force has shown an ability to rise above adversity, hacking out a three-set win over Ateneo in the playoff for a semifinal berth. But the Air Spikers will need Maika Ortiz and Judy Ann Caballejo to deliver big games to stand a chance of producing a turnaround in the series.

The Lady Rising Suns who won the title via a 16-game sweep last year seem to have regained their form after  losing four straight quarterfinal games.