Cagayan blasts PNP, grabs piece of lead in Shakey's V-League

Games Sunday

(The Arena, San Juan)

2 p.m. – Air Force vs PNP

4 p.m. – Ateneo vs PLDT Home Telpad

MANILA, Philippines – Cagayan Valley toyed with Philippine National Police with plenty to spare and hammered out a 25-15, 25-21, 25-18 victory to jump into a share of the lead with four others in the Shakey's V-League Open Conference-Season 11 2014 at The Arena in San Juan City.

Aiza Maizo and Janine Marciano led the carnage with 11 hits apiece to hand the Rising Suns their first win in this same conference they dominated last year with a historic 16-game title sweep.

But Cagayan coach Nes Pamilar said he's just glad to come out as winners after coming off a grueling title victory in the Cagayan Friendship Games.

"We're a little bit tired. Good thing we were able to manage the minutes of my players," said Pamilar in Filipino.

Indeed, only Maizo, Pau Soriano and Wenneth Eulalio played the full three sets while alternating Angeli Tabaquero, Guzelle Sy, Rosemarie VargasLeuseht Dawis, Janine Marciano, Faye Guevarra, Sheila Marie Pineda and Relea Ferina Saet.

Tabaquero – who played in the first and third sets – scattered six hits, Vargas, who suited up in the first two, added four. For her part, Sy, who came in halfway through in the second and finished the rest of the way, scored three points.

The Rising Suns also put premium on defense, particularly blocking where Maizo and Eulalio excelled with three each.

"We know that we need to contain their spikers for us to win this, I'm happy that we did," said Pamilar.

Frances Xinia Molina and Christine Jane Medrazo paced the Lady Patrollers with 17 and 13 hits, including 15 and 12 on attacks, respectively, but no other PNP spiker finished with more than four hits.

The Lady Patrollers fell to their third straight defeat.

In the other match, undermanned PLDT Home Telpad smashed University of the Philippines, 25-15, 25-21, 25-21, to join a heavy six-way logjam for first place with a victory apiece.

San Sebastian standout Gretchel Soltones paced her team with 16 hits, including 15 on kills, while Suzzanne Roces and Charo Soriano fired 15 and 10, respectively, to seal the win and launch the Power Attackers' title bid.

PLDT, however, did it without four of its mainstays – Dindin Santiago, Carmina Aganon, Abby Marano and Royze Estampa – due to contractual obligations.

Santiago and Aganon are with Petron Blaze while Estampa and Marano are suiting up for AirAsia in the rival league and will only be allowed to play only after their league ended.

"They can't play until the other league is over so we just have to make do with what we currently have," said PLDT Home Telpad coach Roger Gorayeb in Filipino.

The Lady Maroons skidded to their third loss in row.