Tigresses eye semis; Lady Archers go for 8th win

University of Santo Tomas tries to formalize its entry into the semifinal round of the 2005 Shakey’s V-League first conference as it takes on winless Lyceum while La Salle eyes its eighth straight victory against Far Eastern U at the Rizal Coliseum today.

The Tigresses, who ruled the inaugural staging of this Shakey’s Pizza-sponsored event last year, are currently in third place with a 4-3 card and are raring to join the Lady Archers and the San Sebastian Lady Stags (6-1) into the semifinal round.

Gametime is at 5 p.m.

But while UST is fancied to take a romp over Lyceum, out of the semis race with no win to show in eight starts, La Salle is expected to encounter stiff resistance from FEU, out to keep its flickering semis hopes alive with a sweep of its last three games.

At 1-6, the Lady Tams need to win three more and hope that Ateneo (4-4) and UST drop their remaining games to force at least a tie for the last semis berth.

But with the way the Lady Archers are playing, the FEU spikers would need to come up with a superb game to stop the Taft-based squad in their 3 p.m. match. The event is backed by Accel, Mikasa, IBC 13 and Jemah Television.

Highlights of today’s matches will be aired tomorrow on IBC-13 starting at 7 p.m., according to the organizing Sports Vision Management Group, Inc.

Drawing firepower from its mainstays, La Salle walloped Ateneo, 25-15, 23-25, 25-15, 25-15, Tuesday to extend its win run to seven.

Expected to lead La Salle’s attack are the vaunted frontline troika of Maureen Penetrante, Michelle Carolino and Desiree Hernandez, all capable of hitting powerful spikes and blocking shots upfront.

Penetrante, Hernandez and last conference’s MVP Carolino, in fact, showed a sampling of what they are capable of by combining for 40 hits in a La Salle win over its collegiate arch rival.

Concepcion Legaspi and comely Manilla Santos also made a good account of themselves in that game by chipping in 11 and 10 points, respectively.