Maynilad seeks payback, Final 4 versus Cagayan

Games today

2 p.m. – Air Force vs Army

4 p.m. – Smart vs Cagayan

Standings            W            L

Cagayan               9              0

Army                      8              1

Smart                    6              3

Air Force              5              4

Meralco               3              6

PNP                     2              7

MANILA, Philippines - Smart-Maynilad sets out for a payback against unbeaten Cagayan Province with a souped-up roster, gunning for no less than a win and a berth in the Final Four of the Shakey’s V-League Season 10 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan City today.

The Net Spikers dropped a tight three-setter to the Rising Suns in the elims, 23-25, 24-26, 20-25, with just eight players. But with Ateneo star Alyssa Valdez and Thai ace Lithawat Kesinee now with the team, Smart-Maynilad appears to have the firepower to stop the streaking Rising Suns.

However, Cagayan is also out to preserve its streak and zero in on the top seeding in the semis of the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.

Second-running Army and Air Force collide in the other match at 2 p.m. with the former shooting for its ninth win against a loss and the latter (5-4) seeking to fortify its hold of the fourth spot ahead of Meralco (3-6) and PNP (2-7).

Both Smart-Maynilad and Cagayan Province are coming off tough victories last Friday with the Net Spikers needing four sets to topple the Philippine National Police Patrolers and Rising Suns scrambling to survive the Meralco Power Spikers in five.

Focus will be on Valdez and Kesinee, who have provided Smart-Maynilad the needed spunk especially in the single round quarterfinal stage. With them on board, the Net Spikers swept their first two games in the quarters for a 6-3 card, moving a win closer to the Final Four of the tournament backed by Mikasa and Accel and organized by Sports Vision.

Valdez, in particular, has normed a whopping 27-hit game in her first three outings, the last against PNP despite coming in late with Gretchel Soltones from school.

Unlike Smart-Maynilad, Cagayan boasts of not just one but two Thai reinforcements with Kannika Thipachot complementing well with Angeli Tabaquero and AIza Maizo upfront and Phomia Soraya providing the set plays.