Thai spiker seeks second MVP plum

MANILA, Philippines – As San Sebastian braces for its second straight Shakey’s V-League crown, guest Thai import Jaroensri Bualee also primes herself up for another MVP plum when the league honors the conference’s outstanding players tomorrow.

With Bualee firing 16 hits and the rest backing her up with solid games, the Lady Stags tripped the Tigresses, 25-17, 25-22, 25-19, in the opener of their best-of-three title showdown last Thursday with the España-based spikers raring to wrap it all up in Game Two tomorrow at The Arena in San Juan.

But before SSC goes for the clincher, Bualee, the league’s top scorer with 267 after the Final Four, hopes to notch the MVP title in the awards rites set after the battle for third place between Adamson and FEU at 2 p.m.

Mary Jean Balse, who steered UST to three titles in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and presented by Cherifer, is second in the scoring list with 251 but will need a big turnaround to snatch the coveted individual crown.

Other contenders for the MVP plum 2008 second conference winner Lou Ann Latigay, also of SSC, and UST’s pair of hitter Aiza Maizo and Michelle Carolino.

Latigay is tipped to clinch the best spiker award while Maizo is a cinch to cop the best blocker title.

Rhea Dimaculangan of UST is the league’s leading setter and server and is a favorite to win either if not sweep the two awards while Adamson’s Lizlee Ann Gata is the leading contender for the best digger and best receiver titles.

The league will also honor the Cherifer most improved player where FEU standouts Cherry Vivas and Shaira Gonzales and SSC’s Joy Benito are the chief contenders.

Meanwhile, the Lady Stags could hardly wait to repeat over the Tigresses and capture their second straight championship. The SSC spikers also swept UST to bag last year’s second conference diadem in the event organized by Sports Vision and backed by Mikasa, Accel, Mighty Bond and OraCare.