Cagayan steps up bid for No. 1 versus Meralco

MANILA, Philippines - Having clinched a Final Four berth, Cagayan Province now sets its sights on the top seeding as it guns for its ninth straight victory against Meralco even as Smart-Maynilad seeks to re-assert its mastery over Phl National Police in the Shakey’s V-League Season 10 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan City today.

Sustaining their sweep of the single round elims, the Rising Suns repeated over the Air Women last Tuesday to stretch their win run to eight with another victory over the Power Spikers in their 4 p.m. encounter set to give them a one-game cushion over the Army side.

The Army Women joined the Rising Suns in the semis with an emphatic three-set romp over the Power Spikers, also last Tuesday, keeping them within sight of the unbeaten leaders at 8-1.

But Cagayan is fancied to roll past Meralco again the way it did in the elims with Thai reinforcement Kannika Thipachot eager to make up for her limited stint the last time out.

Aiza Maizo and Angeli Tabaquero along with Adamson stars Shiela Pineda and Pau Soriano are also expected to re-display the awesome form they’ve been dishing out against a Meralco side in dire need of a win to stay in the hunt for the last semis seat.

At 3-5, Meralco is in fifth in the six-team quarters cast and would need to sweep its last four games and hope that Smart-Maynilad (5-3) and Air Force (5-4) won’t go over seven wins to force a playoff for the last Final Four berth.

But the Net Spikers are out to nail their sixth win as they face off with the Patrolers (2-6) at 2 p.m. Smart-Maynilad swept PNP in the elims and is favored to score a repeat with a souped-up roster.

Alyssa Valdez, Ateneo’s top hitter, pooled a whopping 53-hit output in her first two games with Smart while Thai ace Lithawat Kesinee has normed 20 points in three games, firming up the Net Spikers’ frontline threat that includes Sue Roces, Gretchel Soltones and Maru Banaticla.