Cagayan sweeps V-league elims

MANILA, Philippines - Cagayan Province got the shorthand of its player experiment before relying on their best players in the end as it turned back a feisty Phl National Police in a gripping 22-25, 29-27, 25-13, 20-25, 15-9 victory to sweep the elimination round of the Shakey’s V-League 10 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan City Tuesday.

Aiza Maizo, Angeli Tabaquero and Wenneth Eulalio were at their typical best as they uncorked 19, 16 and 16 hits, respectively, to lead the Rising Suns to their seventh straight wins, which will be carried over the quarterfinals where they are the first entrants.

Thai imports Kannika Thipachot and Phomia Soraya weren’t supposed to see action to allow the bench players to see action but the plan didn’t work as the Lady Patrollers stole the first set and nearly snatched the second in their absence.

Not wanting to fall two sets down, Cagayan mentor Nes Pamilar brought in Thipachot, a spiker, and Soraya, a setter, allowing the two to will the team back to pick the second set out of PNP’s pockets while dominating the third set.

Again, PNP took control of the fourth set when the crisp-hitting Thipachot sat out and forced a fifth and deciding set.

Thipachot then returned for the decider to help Cagayan quash whatever upset aspirations in PNP by capping it with a mighty kill that went straight to PNP’s Thai reinforcement Sangmuang Patcharee, who couldn’t handle it.

Thipachot ended up with 12 hits in just a little over two sets of action while Soraya was at her efficient best with 30 excellent sets out of 75 attempts despite playing a little over just three sets.

“I just want to see how the team will do without our Thai players. I also want to give my other players the chance to play and perhaps gain some confidence from it,” said Pamilar in Filipino.

The Rising Suns thus completed their elimination round assignments as they are scheduled to fly today to Thailand for the 17th Asian Seniors Women’s Championship slated Sept. 13 to 17 and will return on Sept. 21.

“I don’t want to call it a vacation because we’re going to war out there because we’re facing elite competition,” said Pamilar.

Analyn Joy Benito, a San Sebastian standout, led Cagayan’s reserves with 12 hits.

Janine Nicole Marciano and Patcharee led the Lady Troopers with 24 and 21 hits, respectively, while Frances Xinia Molina scattered 16 of her own but their efforts weren’t enough to prevent them from rolling to their fourth straight loss in as many games.