Shakey’s V-League Open: Cagayan Valley officially ousts UP, NU outplays Ateneo

TEAM STANDINGS:

PLDT Home Telpad 6-1*

Cagayan Valley 5-1*

Philippine Army 5-1*

National University 3-3*

Philippine Air Force 3-3*

Ateneo de Manila University 2-4*

Philippine National Police 0-6

University of the Philippines 0-6

*Advanced to the Quarterfinals

GAMES ON TUESDAY (July 29th at The Arena, San Juan City)

2:00PM – Philippine Air Force vs. National University

4:00PM – Ateneo de Manila University vs. Philippine Army

THE ARENA, San Juan City—Defending champions Cagayan Valley dealt the knockout bloe to any aspirations the vastly improved University of the Philippines (UP) had of moving on to the next round with a decisive 25-15, 25-19, 25-16 while last conference’s runner-up the National University (NU) drew inspired performances from its “heir apparents” to hack out a 25-18, 15-25, 26-24, 25-18 victory against reigning UAAP queens the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) in the ongoing elimination round of the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference here.

Aiza Maizo-Pontillas carried the cudgels for the Rising Suns with a game-high thirteen points as she had to make up for the absence of starting quicker Wenneth Eulalio who was excused for the game by coach Nes Pamilar. Eulalio was one of thousands of devotees who joined in the commemoration of the Iglesia Ni Cristo centennial rites in Bulacan and was replaced in the starting line-up by former Adamson reserve Faye Guevara. Guevara’s former collegiate teammate Pau Soriano and former San Beda Lioness Janine Marciano chipped-in twelve points apiece in a total display of dominance against the upstarts from Diliman.

The match was not without its scary moments, though, as UP raced to hot starts at the onset of each set, led by skipper Nicole Tiamzon, ultra-senior Angeli Araneta and defensive specialist Kathy Bersola.

Cagayan Valley, however, took full advantage of the weak reception department of the Lady Maroons as they pulled away at the midway marks of all three sets.

The loss effectively eliminated UP from any hopes they had of barging into the quarterfinals as it is no longer possible for the Lady Maroons (0-6) to attain two wins and hope that either Ateneo or NU fails to win their remaining assignments With the Rising Suns’ fifth victory in six games, they also assured Ateneo and NU—the two other college squads seeing action in the tourney—of entry into the quarterfinals, regardless of what happens from here on in. The victory also tied Cagayan Valley with idle Philippine Army (5-1) at second place and can tie league-leading PLDT Home Telpad with another win on Thursday (July 31st) against the Lady Eagles.

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UP closes its campaign on the same playdate against fellow winless Philippine National Police (PNP) in what many are calling “the prelims championship”.

With this development, the quarterfinal round will begin on Sunday, August 3rd as there is no more chance of there being a playoff to resolve a qualifying tie.

In the second game, crowd-favorite Ateneo showed up one player down as former starting open spiker Ella de Jesus showed up in civilian clothes and in a walking boot.

“I re-aggravated it in the last game,” de Jesus, fondly called the “Ellavator” said to me before the tiff.

De Jesus has been ruled out indefinitely and many look at the possibility of Ateneo Head Coach Anusorn “Tai” Bundit to start breaking in his core of new players to back-up his starting openers in Kim Gequillana and reigning UAAP MVP Alyssa Valdez.

More bad news was absorbed by the Lady Eagles’ camp, however, when starting quicker Aerieal Patnongon suffered an ankle sprain towards the end of the first set when a net duel brought her down on the foot of NU attacker Myla Pablo. Patnongon immediately collapsed to the floor clutching her right ankle and was in tears as she was helped off the floor. She did manage to walk on her own power later on and the injury is now considered day-to-day. Freshman Bea de Leon took over for Patnongon.

6’6” behemoth Jaja Santiago was once again the focal point of the Lady Bulldogs’ attack as the 18-year-old unloaded fourteen markers to spearhead the aggression for NU. But incredible showings from “heir-apparents” Rizza Jane Mandapat (sans Mina Aganon/Aiko Urdas) and Desiree Dadang (sans Din-Din Santiago) gave the audience in attendance a glimpse of what the Lady Bulldogs have up their sleeves in the upcoming UAAP. Mandapat erupted for a season-high thirteen points while Dadang’s eight points included three key block points that helped propel NU back to the .500 mark. Mandapat was adjudged Player of the Game for her stellar performance that included three services aces and two block points to go along with her eight attack points.

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The third canto was perhaps one of the best sets of the tournament with both side sligging it out and going through crucial spurts at critical moments. Ateneo clawed back from being down by five points 16-21 to snatching the lead 22-21 courtesy of a 6-0 sparked by Gequillana’s steady serves and Valdez’s continued assertiveness. The Lady Eagles also fought back from two set points down 24-22 to tie at 24-all again from Valdez’s positive actions. A hitting error and a check ball off the attack of NU freshman find Jorelle Singh promptly ended hostilities in favor of the Lady Bulldogs.

The fourth set saw NU race to an early lead they would never relinquish and go on to notch their third win (and first over their UAAP nemesis in the post Din-Din/Aganon era). The Lady Eagles dropped to 2-4 in the standings for solo sixth place.

NU Libero Fatima General (who has always been under the microscope as she has always unfairly been compaired to superstar floor patroller Jen Reyes) and setter Ivy Perez also had brilliant outings as the Lady Bulldogs kept the pressure on the Katipineras in the latter two sets.

For Ateneo, Valdez had “only” 26 points to lead all scorers in the disappointing loss. Prior to this match the wunderkind from San Juan, Batangas had lines of 32 points and 30 points, but only get solid offensive help from sophomore Gequillana, who outdid herself with thirteen markers. The usually reliable Michelle Morente could only muster seven points while veteran quicker Amy Ahomiro could only contribute four markers.

The Lady Eagles were also forced into 36 total errors as Santiago’s presence altered many shots from those whose surnames were not Valdez or Gequillana. NU also reverted to a variety of offspeed shots that kept the Ateneo defenses guessing. The Lady Bulldogs close out their first round schedule against the slumping Philippine Air Force on Tuesday, while Ateneo has played the first of three straight to finish their prelims campaign. The Lady Eagles take on the Philippine Army on Tuesday (July 29th) and end against the defending titlists Cagayan Valley on Thursday (July 31st).

Once again, regardless of what happens in the remaining games, NU and Ateneo are also guaranteed slots in the quarterfinals. However, the uphill climb begin there as the prelims records carryover to the next round. After which, only four teams will move on to the crossover semifinals as two more squads will fall by the wayside.

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Can the Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Eagles regroup in time to make a final push for the Final Four?

BOXSCORES:

Cagayan Valley def. University of the Philippines – 25-15, 25-19, 25-16

CVRS—Maizo-Pontillas 13, Marciano 12, P. Soriano 12, Vargas 8, Tabaquero 6, Dawis 5, Guevara 4, Saet 2, Sy 1, Benito 1, Seguirre 1, Pineda (L) 0.

UP—Bersola 10, Araneta 8, Tiamzon 6, Mo. Ortiz 4, Sandoval 3, Lai 1, Ong 1, Gaiser (L) 0, Estrañero (L) 0, Ilustre 0, Magtalas 0, Calugcug 0.

National University def. Ateneo de Manila University – 25-18, 15-25, 26-24, 25-18

NU—J. Santiago 14, Mandapat 13, My. Pablo 10, Dadang 8, Singh 6, Perez 3, Ma. Pablo 1, General (L) 0, G. Valdez 0.

AdMU—A. Valdez 26, Gequillana 13, B. de Leon 8, Morente 7, Ahomiro 4, Morado 3, Madayag 1, Lazaro (L) 0, Patnongon 0.

Follow Noel Zarate on Twitter (@NoelZarate) and email sportztackle@yahoo.com