Cagayan seeks joint second vs UP

Games today

2 p.m. – UP vs Cagayan

4 p.m. – Ateneo vs National U

MANILA, Philippines - Cagayan Valley, fresh from its four-set triumph over erstwhile unbeaten Army, tries to join its recent victim at second as it takes on winless University of the Philippines even as Ateneo and National U collide in a crucial match in the Shakey’s V-League Season II Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan today.

The Rising Suns set out as the overwhelming favorites in the 2 p.m. match with the Lady Maroons, their confidence boosted by a 27-25, 20-25, 25-23, 25-22 victory over the Lady Troopers that sent the race for the top spot wide open heading to the last three elims playdates of the mid-season conference sponsored by Shakey’s and backed by Mikasa and Accel.

Cagayan’s win enabled idle newcomer PLDT Home Telpad to seize the solo lead with a 6-1 mark at the close of its elims assignment, with the Rising Suns hoping to match it with a sweep of their last two games. They close out their elims schedule against Ateneo next Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Cagayan-Army duel last Thursday will be aired tomorrow starting at 1 p.m. on GMA News TV Channel while the Ateneo-NU clash will be shown on Tuesday. The PLDT-Air Force faceoff last Thursday and today’s Cagayan-UP clash will be shown Wednesday, according to the organizing Sports Vision.

Army will also try to re-join Cagayan at the helm when it tangles with Ateneo on Tuesday

Ateneo, meanwhile, closes out its tough elims schedule against National U today before taking on Army and Cagayan Valley next.

With a 2-2 card, the Lady Eagles hope to sweep their last three games and gain the much-needed confidence heading to the quarters where the six qualifiers will carry their respective elims records.

The top four after another single round robin affair will advance to the crossover semis with the No. 1 battling No. 4 and No. 2 facing No.  3.