Rising Suns pace Shakey’s V-L, trounce Navy spikers

MANILA, Philippines -  Cagayan Province waylaid a visibly off-form Philippine Navy and strolled to a 25-12, 25-12, 25-16 victory to seize the solo lead even as Air Force bounced back with a similar straight-set win over Far Eastern U in the Shakey’s V-League Season 10 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

The Rising Suns had a virtual workout against the debuting Lady Sailors, pumping in 47 kills, including a combined 22 points from Angeli Tabaquero and Aiza Maizo, from 39 excellent sets spearheaded by Relea Saet.

Earlier, Air Force leaned on its superb reception and its power game to down FEU, 25-20, 25-21, 25-19, and snap a two-game skid in the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.

Judy Ann Caballejo, a UST standout, banged away 12 hits she laced with three service aces and two blocks, carrying the Air Women past the Lady Tams in a duel of winless teams.

“She showed in the game that she’s a force to reckon with,” said Air Force coach Clarence Esteban in Filipino of Caballejo.

Maika Ortiz blocked Marie Toni Basas’ attack to wrap up the 78-minute encounter with the former finishing nine points, one behind the crisp-hitting Joy Cases, who unloaded all her points on kills.

Esteban liked how they received the ball.

“We received well, that started it all for us,” he said.

FEU, mentored by Shaq delos Santos, threatened last at 15-17 after stringing four straight points on Air Force’s miscues but Cases took over by scoring four of her team’s last eight points.

The Air Women also drew strength from Wendy Semana’s superb set plays to overpower the Lady Tams, 42-30, with Cases and Ortiz combining for 18 kills. Semana, who produced 22 excellent sets, also finished with eight points.

The victory was Air Force’s first after dropping its first two games to Cagayan Province and Army last week, putting it back in the hunt for one of the six quarterfinal berths in the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s and backed by Mikasa and Accel.

Skipper Liza de Ramos added seven hits while Jennifer Manzano and Rhea Dimaculangan chipped in four and two, respectively, for the Air Women, who also toughened up on defense after a strong start in each of the three sets.