Suns to rise again, level Shakey’s duel?

Games tomorrow

12:45 p.m. – Air Force vs PLDT Home Telpad

2:45 p.m. – Army vs Cagayan

MANILA, Philippines - Down in a short best-of-three series and against the most fancied team in the fold, Cagayan Valley coach remains upbeat of the Rising Suns chances but stresses the need for consistency to be able to stop the Army Lady Troopers from sweeping the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Open Conference crown.

The Rising Suns have faced near-elimination in the quarters but rose to the occasion and the defending champions expect to do the same tomorrow in Game Two of their best-of-three series for the mid-season conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.

“Our reception was really bad and our defense upfront was on and off. We just need to be consistent,” said Pamilar in Pilipino. “I was also disappointed with how we collapsed in the fourth set, we just lost it completely in there.”

Pamilar was referring to their horrific five-point output in the fourth where the Lady Troopers imposed their will and power while pouncing on their rivals’ errors to pound out a 25-19, 18-25, 25-18, 25-5 romp in the opener of the series backed by Mikasa and Accel Thursday.

The two-day break should’ve given the Rising Suns time to make the necessary adjustments – from reception to net defense and hitting – and rebuild their confidence following their so-so performance in the opener, particularly in their fourth-set meltdown.

Game Two is set at 2:45 p.m. tomorrow to be shown live on GMA News TV Channel, according to the organizing Sports Vision. A decider, if necessary, is set Sept. 7.

“We played a little tight and nervous most of the match. We must show them we’re not intimidated and we can compete against them even though we’re the underdogs in this series,” said Pamilar, who steered the team to a record 16-game sweep last year.

Proof of that was their win in the second set that saw the Rising Suns play true to form and square the match at one-set apiece.

But Army took over in the next two sets as Cagayan Valley simply lost it poise and all.

“That second set showed what we really are. If we can play like that the whole game, we’ll have a chance,” said Pamilar, who’s pinning his hopes again on the likes of Aiza Maizo, Rosemarie Vargas, Pau Soriano, Wenneth Eulalio, Janine Marciano, Shiela Pineda, Relea Saet, Joy Benito, setter Gyzele Sy and skipper Angeli Tabaquero.