UST, SSC open drive to V-League finals

MANILA, Philippines - University of Santo Tomas squares off with Lyceum and San Sebastian mixes it up with Ateneo today in a pair of explosive best-of-three duels kicking off the semifinal round of the Shakey’s V-League Season 7 at The Arena in San Juan.

The Tigresses, seeking a third straight championship, toppled the Lady Eagles in a thrilling five-setter last Thursday to clinch the top seeding in Group II and arrange a Final Four clash with the Lady Pirates, who settled for No. 2 in Group I.

The Lady Stags, on the other hand, took the No. 1 seeding in Group I with a victory over the Adamson Lady Falcons in their sudden death for the other semis berth and are taking on the Lady Eagles in a couple of matches tipped to go down-to-the-wire.

UST and LPU collide at 2 p.m. while SSC and Ateneo slug it out in the 4 p.m. main game. The Tigresses and the Lady Stags are trying to arrange a fifth title showdown in the last six conferences in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and presented by PLDT MyDSL with the former winning three, including in this conference last year.

But the Recoletos-based spikers are raring to get back at the five-time champions although they will have to hurdle an equally tough Ateneo side to gain another crack at the championship.

The event, organized by Sports Vision, is backed by Accel, Mikasa and Mighty Bond.

Focus will be on SSC’s Jeng Bualee, the conference’s leading scorer with a 19-point average, and Ateneo’s Sontaya Keawbundit, No. 3 in scoring with a 16.5 norm.

The local support is just about even with Suzanne Roces, Joy Benito, Elaine Cruz and top setter Jennelyn Belen backing up Bualee and Keawbundit expected to draw solid games from Fille Cainglet, Charo Soriano, Angeline Gervacio, Denise Acevedo and Gretchen Ho.

UST, trying to win another crown with an all-Pinay crew, will also have its hands full against Lyceum, which boasts of Thai ace Porntip Santrong, the league’s second leading scorer with a 17-point clip, and a gritty bunch of locals headed by Joy Cases, Dahlia Cruz, Nica Guliman, Syvie Artates and top server Ann Tabafunda.

But the Tigresses remain formidable behind MVP Aiza Maizo, the leading hitter and blocker, Angeli Tabaquero, Maika Ortiz, Denise Santiago, Maru Banaticla and guest players Jean Balse and Michelle Carolino.

Winners of the semis will dispute the championship in another best-of-three affair on May 23.