Army eyes to sustain momentum vs Cagayan Valley in V-League

Games Tuesday

(The Arena, San Juan)

4 p.m.- Systema vs FEU

6 p.m.- Cagayan vs Army

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Army hopes to ride the crest of its emphatic victory over Meralco in Sunday's opener as it clashes with Cagayan Valley Tuesday in the Shakey's V-League Season 11 Third Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.

Led by local reinforcement Dindin Santiago, the souped-up Lady Troopers walloped the Power Spikers, 25-19, 25-18, 25-18, over the weekend to jumpstart its title bid a month after topping the Open Conference.

A win over the Rising Suns in their 6 p.m. duel will keep the Lady Troopers at the helm.

Cagayan Valley, the Season 11 Open Conference runner-up this year and champion of the same conference last year, will be backstopped by Thais Patcharee Saengmuang and Amporn Hyapha.

As it is, the Rising Suns are tipped to contend for the crown as it also as it kept the core of its squad in Angeli Tabaquero, Pau Soriano, Aiza Maizo, Janine Marciano, Joy Benito, Wenneth Eulalio and Sheila Marie Pineda.

"We're confident of our chances this conference," said Cagayan coach Nestor Pamilar in Filipino.

While the other team decided to tap a maximum of two foreign imports, Army opted to go all-Filipino and instead took in former rivals and ex-National U standouts Santiago and Carmina Aganon.

"We are okay and happy with our original roster, we just added some scoring threats in Dindin and Mina," said Army coach Rico de Guzman referring to the 6-2 Santiago and the equally power-hitting Aganon.

Santiago unloaded 10 hits before she was sat down the whole of the third set while Mary Jean Balse, reigning Open Conference Finals MVP Jovelyn Gonzaga and Open Conference MVP Rachel Ann Daquis chipped in nine, eight and eight hits, respectively.

Veteran Tina Salak postponed her plans for retirement, suited up and successfully organized Army's unrelenting attack  as she held her fort against Meralco's Japanese setter Misao Tanyama.

In the men's division, Systema Tooth and Gum Care aims to bounce back from a stinging 25-17, 19-25, 18-25, 25-23, 12-15 defeat to Instituto Estetico Manila over the weekend as it tackles a dangerous Far Eastern U side, last year's UAAP runner-up.