Domination vs redemption: Army, Cagayan begin title series

Games today

2 p.m. – EM vs Systema (men’s finals) –Awards rites

4 p.m. – Army vs Cagayan (women’s finals)

MANILA, Philippines - Army hopes to cap its dominant campaign in the season about to end but Cagayan Valley is out for a payback and redemption as they face off today in the opener of their showdown for the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Third Conference crown at The Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Troopers haven’t dropped a match since sweeping the Rising Suns in two to claim the Open Conference crown last August and winning all their six games in the season-ending conference sponsored by Shakey’s, including two over their archrivals.

Already stuffed by the league’s former MVPs, including Jovelyn Gonzaga, Nerissa Bautista, MJ Balse and Rachel Ann Daquis, Army further toughened up by acquiring former National U standouts Dindin Santiago and Carmina Aganon, giving coach Rico de Guzman so much talent, firepower and depth.

But despite their four straight setbacks and the Troopers’ aura of invincibility, Cagayan Valley coach Nes Pamilar believes the star-studded Army crew is beatable but wants his wards to open up its attack to break up their rivals’ defense upfront.

“This will be a defensive battle. But we need to spread our attack so that their defense won’t be focused on our imports alone,” said Cagayan mentor Nes Pamilar of the match set at 4 p.m.

He was referring to their Thai reinforcements Saengmuang Patcharee and Hyapha Amporn, who got to suit up late in the elims but who are itching to give the Rising Suns the needed lift in this title series, backed by Mikasa and Accel, expected to go either way.

“The odds are just about even in this series. Though they beat us twice this conference, both games went through five sets,” said Pamilar.

Truly, in their first meeting last Oct. 27, Cagayan blew a 2-1 set lead and dropped a 25-17, 17-25, 25-17, 21-25, 13-15, then rallied from 0-2 down only to fall short in the end the next time around, 22-25, 24-26, 28-26, 25-23, 13-15.

Meanwhile, System Tooth and Gum Care and Instituto Estetico Manila start their own best-of-three series for the inaugural men’s crown at 2 p.m. after which the league will honor the conference’s top performers, including the MVPs in both divisions, according to the organizing Sports Vision.

Games can be viewed live via streaming on www.v-league.ph.

Cagayan emerged as the league’s top spiking team with 34.33 percent success from 309 spikes out of 900 attempts, just ahead of Army, which had more smashes (350) and more tries (1,035) for a 33.82 clip.

But the Lady Troopers came out as the top blocking squad with 2.69 average by set from 70 blocks off the kill with the Suns in third behind the Meralco Power Spikers with 1.83 norm (42 blocks).

Cagayan is also the league’s top serving team and No. 1 in reception, giving the Rising Suns some kind of a push as they try to finally end the Troopers domination and start their own reign.