SSC, Lyceum seek V-League title clash

MANILA, Philippines - San Sebastian and Lyceum try to make it two-in-row over their respective Final Four rivals and arrange a title showdown for the Shakey’s V-League Season 7 crown at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Stags overwhelmed a depleted Ateneo side, which played without injured star Charo Soriano, as they rolled to a 25-21, 25-18, 25-18 victory in the opener of their best-of-three series Sunday.

Unless the Lady Eagles come up with a big adjustment to limit Thai import Jeng Bualee and the rest of the local talents and somebody steps up for Soriano, the Lady Stags could well be on their way to a sixth championship appearance in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

Gametime is at 2 p.m.

Focus will also be on the 4 p.m. match between Lyceum and UST with the Lady Pirates expecting a big fightback from the five-time champions, whom they humbled for the first time in 15 meetings, 30-32, 25-15, 23-25, 25-23, 15-10, for a 1-0 lead in their own side of the semis.

But the Muralla-based spikers, headed by Thai ace Porntip Santrong, are raring for a repeat as they go for a first-ever stint in the championship round in the league presented by PLDT MyDSL and organized by Sports Vision.

Santrong fired a tournament-high 35 hits, including seven aces, and came up with 14 digs in a superb all-around game while Nica Guliman backed her up with a career-high 17 points, including six blocks.

“We still have to make some adjustments, especially on attacks by our open spiker Joy (Cases),” said Lyceum mentor Emil Lontoc in Filipino. “But if we could sustain our solid blocking and floor defense, we have a chance to make it to the finals.”

The Tigresses are also expected to have fine-tuned their game heading into the crucial contest as they go all out to send the match into a winner-take-all affair and keep their bid alive for a third straight championship in the league backed by Accel, Mikasa and Mighty Bond.

Angeli Tabaquero tries to atone for her measly 10-hit output in the face of Guliman’s solid net defense the last time out along with mainstays Aiza Maizo, Maika Ortiz, Maru Banaticla and Rhea Dimaculangan and guest players Mary Jean Balse and Michelle Carolino.

“We will try to move on in Game 2 but I hope they will play aggressive again,” said Ateneo coach Clint Malazo of his wards, who will have to do the job without Soriano, sidelined for the rest of the season with an ACL injury.

But the Lady Stags will surely be gunning for a sweep to avoid the specter of going through a sudden death, which could go either way.

“Ateneo has the ability to come back so it will be difficult if there would still be a Game 3,” said SSC coach Roger Gorayeb.

Suzanne Roces and Joy Benito will be there to backstop Bualee against the Lady Eagles’ combination of import Sontaya Keawbundit, Dzi Gervacio and Fille Cainglet, who also raring to make up for their mediocre games in the opener.