Tigresses seek sweep vs Stags

MANILA, Philippines - University of Santo Tomas goes for a sweep of the elims against arch rival San Sebastian College in what could be a preview of the championship between the country’s top women’s volley teams at the close of the qualifiers today in the Shakey’s V-League Season 6 at The Arena in San Juan.

The Tigresses beat the Lady Stags the last they met in sudden death for the first conference crown last June with the former sustaining their form despite the loss of some personnel that saw them sweep their first six games in the second conference.

To underscore their readiness for a sweep of the season’s twin titles, the España-based squad topped the recent Unigames in Iloilo and is coming into their 6 p.m. clash oozing with confidence on a team built around skipper Aiza Maizo, Angeli Tabaquero, Rhea Dimaculangan, Maika Ortiz, guest player Roxanne Pimentel and prized rookie Maruja Banaticla.

But the Lady Stags are also in tip-top form, having clinched a fifth straight championship in the NCAA. Although they dropped their match to the FEU Tams last month, the Recoletos-based team has regained its winning ways to post a 5-1 slate.

A victory by San Sebastian will create a three-way tie among the Tigresses, the Lady Tams and the Lady Stags going into the tough quarterfinal phase of the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza, another single round robin affair with the top four teams advancing to the semifinals.

Joy Benito, Margarita Pepito, Melissa Mirasol, Darna Robinos, Jennelyn Belen and guest player Jinni Mondejar will spearhead the Lady Stags bid against the fancied Tigresses.

Focus will also be on the Ateneo-OraCare-Adamson clash at 4 p.m. with both teams, tied for fourth at 3-3, going all out for a victory in a bid to improve their record heading into the carry-over quarter phase of the tournament backed by Mikasa, Accel, Mighty Bond and OraCare.

UP and Lyceum, who failed to advance with similar 0-6 cards, square in the 2 p.m. opener.

Games can be viewed live on webcast on www.v-league.ph, according to the organizing Sports Vision. NBN-4 will also telecast the matches on a delayed basis with the UP-Lyceum game to be aired tomorrow at 2 p.m.