Suns rise over tough Air Force, make finals

Game tomorrow

4 p.m. – Army vs Smart-Maynilad

MANILA, Philippines - Unbeaten Cagayan Province bucked a shaky start and grounded Air Force, 27-25, 25-19, 25-12, to sweep its way to the finals while Army foiled Smart-Maynilad, 25-21, 18-25, 12-25, 25-23, 15-10, to force a do-or-die for the other championship berth in the Shakey’s V-League Season 10 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

The Rising Suns survived the tough-defending Air Women in the opening set then asserted their might in the next two to complete the straight-set victory and stretch their win run to 14th for a crack at the championship.

Thai Kannika Thipachot and Angeli Tabaquero combined for 32 hits while Aiza Maizo settled for six in a two-set stint as coach Nes Pamilar rested her other prized hitter after his wards had controlled the match.

Earlier, Army unwrapped a surprise package in seldom-used Dahlia Cruz as it fought from the brink to stun Smart-Maynilad and stay in the hunt for a crack at the crown in the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.

Cruz, who played college ball for the Lyceum Lady Pirates, stepped up when the Lady Troopers needed her most, scoring all her eight attack points in the final two sets which they swept to turn a 1-2 set deficit into a thriller of a five-set win.

“She stepped up big when we needed her most,” said Army coach Rico de Guzman.

The one-hour, 51-minute victory thus set up a knockout duel for the other finals berth in the league backed by Mikasa and Accel with Army and Smart-Maynilad disputing the coveted slot at 4 p.m. tomorrow.

The Army Women lost in practically all departments but showed they can win games with sheer guts and smarts.

The Net Spikers, who came back from an opening set setback to win the next two, produced 63 kills as against the Army Women’s 49 and delivered more aces, 11-8, and dominated the non-scoring skills – digs (48-30) and set (44-23).

Army, however, edged Smart in blocks, 9-8.

The victory also put to naught the combined 69-hit production of Smart’s Alyssa Valdez, Gretchel Soltones and Thais Lithawat Kesinee and Wanida Kotruang as the Army Women finally got back at the Net Spikers after dropping their last two face-offs.

Army also drew just two double-digit outputs from MJ Balse (12) and Joanne Bunag (10) as top hitter Jovelyn Gonzaga and Rachel Anne Daquis were held to nine hits apiece. But Jacqueline Alarca chipped in seven markers in the first four sets and Cruz tossed in eight in the last two frames.

Meanwhile, the Cagayan-Air Force match last Tuesday will be shown on GMA News TV Channel 11 today (Saturday) starting at 1 p.m. while the Army-Smart clash will be telecast Monday and the Cagayan-Air Force duel on Tuesday, according to the organizing Sports Vision.