Adamson and San Sebastian try to arrange a showdown for the Shakey’s V-League second conference crown as they go for a sweep against UST and La Salle in their respective Final Four duels at The Arena in San Juan today.
The Lady Falcons, eyeing a second straight championship in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza, reasserted their mastery over the Tigresses, fashioning out a 25-22, 25-18, 22-25, 25-23 victory last Friday to gain the headstart in their best-of-three semis playoff.
The Lady Stags, the four-time NCAA champions, blew a two-set lead in the early going but put their act together in the fifth frame to hack out a thrilling 25-21, 25-19, 22-25, 20-25, 15-9 win over the Lady Archers in their own side of the Final Four clash.
Those victories put Adamson and San Sebastian in the threshold of the championship duel with the Lady Falcons and the Lady Stags needing to repeat over their respective rivals to set a best-of-three titular showdown in the league organized by Sports Vision.
But both teams are expected to meet stiff challenge from the Tigresses and the Lady Archers, winners of three titles each in the league, who will lean on their championship experience and poise to force a pair of winner-take-all matches for the coveted final berths.
San Sebastian and La Salle collide first at 2 p.m. with the Taft-based squad out to stop the power-hitting Laurence Ann Latigay, who unloaded 26 kills and a conference-high 30 points in power the Lady Stags to the scrambling win.
SSC coach Roger Gorayeb will also pin his hopes on guest player Suzanne Roces, alumna Jinni Mondejar, Rysabelle Devanadera and Analyn Joy Benito and a dependable bench to complete their sweep bid over the Archers.
La Salle mentor Ramil de Jesus will have to come up with key adjustment and a lot of motivation to draw the best from Jacqueline Alarca, Manilla Santos, Stephanie Mercado, Reiea Saet, Celine Hernandez, Michelle Datuin and Charleen Cruz.
The 4 p.m. clash between Adamson and UST also promises to be a slambang action with the Lady Falcons confident of making it three in row over the Tigresses behind Angela Benting, Neriza Bautista, Janet Serafica, Paulina Soriano, Rissa Jane Laguilles and Jill Gustillo.
To get even and force a rubber match, the Espana-based tossers must toughen up on net defense and continue to draw firepower from guest player Mary Jean Balse and alumna Venus Bernal, whose combined 38-point output in the opener proved not enough.
Aiza Maizo, who averaged 13 points in the elims, must also assert herself on attack after she was held to just eight points Friday along with Bernice Co and Judy Ann Caballejo.
For updates and results, visit the tournament website at www.v-league.ph. The league is backed by Active White skin whitening products, Mikasa and Accel.
Meanwhile, the La Salle-SSC game will be telecast at 2 p.m. tomorrow (Monday) with replays to be shown on both Viva Prime Channel on Destiny Cable and Makisig Channel on Sky Cable. The Adamson-UST match will be aired Tuesday.