Santiago pullout adds to embattled Nets woes

MANILA, Philippines - Down by one in a best-of-three series, Smart-Maynilad is hoping against hope National U’s Din-Din Santiago would still suit up when the Net Spikers seek the equalizer against the Cagayan Province Rising Suns in Game Two of the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference Finals at The Arena on Sunday.

“Honestly, I’m not really sure because I’ve heard NU is leaving on Monday for the University Games in Bacolod City,” said Smart-Maynilad coach Roger Gorayeb yesterday.

The NU management has allowed its prized spiker to beef up Smart-Maynilad’s frontline rotation in the ongoing Shakey’s V-League finals. But with the Lady Bulldogs set to leave for the UniGames Monday, the school may or may not allow Santiago to play on Sunday.

But while Santiago managed to help key the team’s win over Army in sudden death of their Final Four duel, she failed to do the same against Cagayan in the title series opener last Tuesday.

Gorayeb said that if the 6-1 Santiago, who steered NU to the championship in the Shakey’s V-League First Conference last May where she also bagged the MVP crown, would be allowed to play in Game Two, he’s certain that she would no longer be available if they manage to force a sudden death set Oct. 27.

“If Din-Din will be allowed to play in Game Two, we’ll be happy because I know she will not make it in Game Three, in case we manage to make it that far,” said Gorayeb.

Cagayan squandered a two-set lead and leaned on Aiza Maizo’s defensive gems in the decider to hack out a 26-24, 25-11, 23-25, 11-25, 15-12 win in Game One.

With the Rising Suns on the attack after snatching a 13-12 lead in the fifth set, Maizo came through with back-to-back blocks on Alyssa Valdez to seal the victory and stretch Cagayan’s amazing run to 15.

Gorayeb also said Valdez is okay after hurting her neck and right shoulder in a collision with teammate Maru Banaticla in the third set of their Game One duel.