Cagayan shoots for historic sweep of Shakey’s V-League

MANILA, Philippines – In the decade-long history of the Shakey’s V-League, not a single team has swept its way to the title. None got even close to accomplishing the rare feat.

So when the Cagayan Rising Suns takes on the floor against the Smart Net Spikers Saturday in Game Two of their best-of-three Shakey’s V-League Season 10 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan City, history awaits.

“We have a chance to write history on Sunday so we might as well go for it,” said Cagayan coach Nes Pamilar in Filipino.

Blowing hot and cold and then hot again, Cagayan turned back a stubborn Smart, 26-24, 25-11, 23-25, 11-25, 15-12, in the series opener last Tuesday that sealed the former its 15th straight victory and one win closer from achieving a sweet sweep, which will be the first in the 10-year history of the league.

A deciding Game Three, if necessary, is set on Oct. 27 either at The San Juan Arena or MOA Arena in Pasay City.

And Pamilar admits the weight of a potential “perfect season” hasn’t sank in particularly in most of the players.

“Honestly, we didn’t really expect to have this kind of streak because our mentality is just to play hard and go hard for a win every game,” said Pamilar. “So most us, including myself, is not really thinking of a sweep, but to win a championship.

“Maybe everything will sink in if it comes but for the mean time, we’ll just go out there to play and try to win it,” he added.

Pamilar has been saying it all along that they key to their emergence is strong preparation and hard work.

"You got to have hard work, preparation and training to succeed, there’re really no shortcuts," he said. “That’s why I don’t mind being like a broken record to my girls telling them work, prepare and train hard every time I get the chance.”