AdU, SSC-R dispute last semis berth

MANILA, Philippines - Adamson and San Sebastian clash today in a match tipped to go down-to-the-wire with both teams going all out for the last semifinal berth in the Shakey’s V-League Season 7 at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Falcons and the Lady Stags head into the 2 p.m. game with identical 1-1 records in Group I with the winner joining early semifinalist Lyceum and Group 2 topnotchers UST and Ateneo in the crossover Final Four phase.

Both teams are expected to come out strong from a week-long break with Thai Jeng Bualee, Suzanne Roces and Joy Benito raring to lead the SSC attack against the vaunted Adamson defense.

“Man for man, we can match up with them,” said Adamson coach Dulce Pante.

The Lady Falcons have anchored their remarkable showing on a solid floor defense behind multi-awarded libero Lizlee Ann Gata while Nene Bautista and Cha-Cha Moralde will take care of the net defense and the team’s offense along with Angela Benting and Pau Soriano.

The organizing Sports Vision said the tie will be broken via the point ratio with the team to emerge No. 1 facing the No. 2 team and the No. 2 squad facing the No. 1 team in the other group in the semis.

UST, seeking a third straight championship in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and presented by PLDT MyDSL, and a fired-up Ateneo side also dispute the top spot in their group for rankings in the best-of-three semifinal round.

The Tigresses and the Lady Eagles tote identical 2-0 cards.

Reaching the semis for the ninth time in the league backed by Mikasa, Accel and Mighty Bond, UST will again lean on MVP Aiza Maizo, Angeli Tabaquero, Maika Ortiz, Rhea Dimaculangan and alumna Mary Jean Balse as the Tigresses resume their hunt for a third straight title.

Doctors, meanwhile, have given Charo Soriano the go signal to play after the Ateneo guest player sustained an injury in a training last week.

“I’m ready for Thursday (today). I just hope to get into game shape and help my team again,” said Soriano, who also hopes to draw support from Thai reinforcement Sontaya Keawbundit and locals Fille Cainglet, Dzi Gervacio, Kara Acevedo and Gretchen Ho.