Suns seek V-L crown vs depleted Troopers

Games today

12:45 p.m. – Systema vs IEM (for men’s crown)

2:45 p.m. – Cagayan vs Army (for women’s crown)

MANILA, Philippines - Cagayan Valley tries to pounce on the absence of the power-hitting pair of Dindin Santiago and Carmina Aganon as it goes for the jugular against Phl Army today in the Shakey’s V-League Season 11-Third Conference at The Arena in San Juan.

Systema Tooth and Gum Care, who seized the series opener following a come-from-behind 21-25, 23-25, 25-19, 25-23, 16-14 win last week, likewise goes for the clincher as it clashes with Instituto Estetico Manila at 12:45 p.m. in the men’s division finale.

Santiago and Aganon, who are the Lady Troopers’ local guest players, are out due to conflict in schedule since their mother club in the other league are also playing on the same day the Lady Troopers are seeing action against the Rising Suns, set at 2:45 p.m.

That is what the Rising Suns, the reinforced Conference champions last year who snatched Game One, 25-23, 20-25, 25-21, 25-18, are hoping to capitalize on.

“We heard it but we’re still preparing as if they’re playing,” said Cagayan coach Nes Pamilar in Filipino, referring to the power-spiking Santiago and Aganon, who played college ball for National University.

“But if they’re really not playing, we have to find a way to take advantage of it,” he added.

For Army mentor Rico de Guzman, he’d like to look at the absence of Santiago and Aganon positively.

“This is a chance for the other players to step up,” said de Guzman, who steered Army to a historic sweep of last conference including a pair of victories in the finals at the expense of Cagayan Valley.

In the absence of Santiago and Aganon, the pretty but dangerous duo of Jovelyn Gonzaga and Rachel Ann Daquis must step in for the Lady Troopers to force a deciding Game Three set next week.

While Gonzaga, last conference’s finals MVP, has no problems adjusting, Daquis, the reigning conference MVP, may have a hard time doing it due to fitness concerns.

Without Santiago’s intimidating long hands and Aganon’s blocking savvy, expect Cagayan’s Thai imports Hyapha Amporn and Patcharee Sangmuang to go on attacking mode early just what they did when the two alone blowtorched Army by combining for 31 hits including 29 on kills.

“We need to be aggressive, that will be the key in this series,” said Pamilar.