Rising Suns shine, deal Patrollers third loss in row

Games Sunday

2 p.m. – Air Force vs Army

4 p.m. – Ateneo vs PLDT Home Telpad

MANILA, Philippines - Cagayan Valley came out strong despite coming off a grueling campaign in the Cagayan Friendship Games as it swept Philippine National Police, 25-15, 25-21, 25-18, to kick off its bid for a repeat of its record win in the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Aiza Maizo and Janine Marciano scored 11 hits apiece but the Rising Suns had to lean on their blockers to frustrate the Lady Patrollers, who matched the defending champions’ 33-attack output but yielded seven hits on blocks.

Wennet Eulalio and Maizo controlled the net with three blocks apiece as Cagayan finished with 11 as against PNPs four-block effort.

“We were a little bit tired, but good thing we’re able to manage the minutes of my players,” said Pamilar in Pilipino. “We also knew that we need to contain their spikers for us to win. I’m happy that we did.”

Maizo, Eulalio and new recruit Pau Soriano played full three sets while Pamilar alternated Angeli Tabaquero, Gyzelle Sy, Rosemarie Vargas, Leuseht Dawis, Faye Guevarra, Sheila Marie Pineda, Relea Ferina Saet and Marciano to keep pace with their rivals, who, however, fell to their third straight loss and in danger of missing the cut in the six-team quarterfinals after the single round elims of the league sponsored by Shakey’s, where it all started.

Tabaquero, who played in the first and third sets, scattered six hits, Vargas, who suited up in the first two frames, added four while Sy, who came in halfway through the second set, scored five.

It also marked the first time in the league, backed by Mikasa and Accel, that Shiela Mae Pineda, played as a libero after flourishing as an open spiker during her Adamson days in the country’s premier women’s volley league as well as in the UAAP.

“So far, so good,” said Pamilar of Pineda, who had a team-best four successful receptions out of 14 attempts.

Frances Xinia Molina and Christine Jane Medrazo paced the Lady Patrollers with 17 and 13 hits, including 15 and 12 on attacks, respectively, but the rest struggled on both ends and finished with no more than four hits.