Cagayan repulses Ateneo in V-League

MANILA, Philippines – Cagayan Valley blew a match point in the fourth set but made for it by taking charge of the fifth and deciding fifth as it turned back a gritty Ateneo, 16-25, 25-16, 25-17, 25-27, 15-10, on Thursday to join PLDT Home Telpad and Army in the Shakey’s V-League Season II Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.

Aiza Maizo paced her team with 17 hits while Pau Soriano, Rosemarie Vargas and Angeli Tabaquero with 12, 12 and 11, respectively, to join the Power Boosters and Lady Troopers at the helm with 5-1 (win-loss) records in this mid-season conference sponsored by Shakey’s.

It was another heartbreaker for the Eagles, who absorbed a second straight defeat and fifth overall against two triumphs.

Interestingly, it was the third five-set match by Ateneo, which was led again by the high-scoring Alyssa Valdez who fired a match high 30, in its last four outings.

Despite the loss though, the Loyola-based lady spikers still advanced to the next round where the six qualifiers will carry their respective win-loss records starting Sunday.

Aside from PLDT, Cagayan, Army and Ateneo, also advancing were National U and Phl Air Force.

Earlier, State U downed Phl National Police, 25-23, 24-26, 25-12, 26-24, in a non-bearing match.