Rising Suns clip Maroons, gain joint 2nd

Games tomorrow

2 p.m. – National U vs Air Force

4 p.m. – Ateneo vs Army

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Cagayan Valley scored an expected straight-set romp over University of the Philippines, 25-15, 25-19, 25-16, staying in the hunt for the top spot heading to the next phase of the Shakey’s V-League Season II Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Aiza Maizo, Janine Marciano and Pau Soriano combined for 37 hits as the Rising Suns imposed their strength early, needing just 66 minutes to dispose of the hapless Lady Maroons and join the idle Army Lady Troopers in second at 5-1.

Newcomer PLDT Home Telpad closed out its elims campaign with a league-leading 6-1 card but Army and Cagayan hope to forge a three-way tie for No. 1 with victories over Ateneo in the last two elims playdates of the mid-season conference sponsored by Shakey’s this week.

National U bucked Alyssa Valdes’ 26-hit explosion as it carved out a 25-18, 15-25, 26-24, 25-18 victory to move to joint fourth with Air Force at 3-3 later in the day.

Jaja Santiago came away with 14 hits, Jane Mandapat added 13 markers and Myla Pablo unloaded 10 points as the Lady Bulldogs bounced back from a second set defeat to outlast the Lady Eagles in the third before sustaining their form in the fourth to complete the victory.

The reigning UAAP champions, who drew another power game from Valdez and 13 markers from Miren Gequillana, slid to 2-3, further dampening their chances in the quarterfinal phase.

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