Highlands, Alabang near Ladies Fed finals

MANILA, Philippines - Tagaytay Highlands and defending champion Alabang moved closer to a projected title showdown after pulling off impressive home victories in the semifinals of the Ladies Federation League recently.

The Highlands ladies blanked Valley, 4-0, while Alabang fashioned out a 3-1 demolition of Sta. Elena to set themselves up for a possible championship tiff.

Highlands needs just a draw in one of the four formats when it goes to Valley next week for the other half of the home-and-away series to earn a third trip to the finals after winning the title in the inaugural edition of the meet in 2005 and placing second in 2008.

Alabang, meanwhile, can barge into the title duel for the second straight year with just a 2-2 draw against their Sta. Elena hosts. In the event any of the semis protagonists end up in a tie, it will be settled via a sudden death playoff on one format.

Olive Yoon-Len Yaptangco (best-ball), Sandy Romualdez-Totelle Dimson (high-low) and Gie Bote-Rosalie Heo (aggregate) delivered abbreviated 5&4 wins for Tagaytay before Farah Imperial-Hedy See completed the sweep by winning on the last hole of the greensomes match.

Geleen Handog, who rejoined the Alabang team only last week, teamed up with Greely Oposa for an easy 5&4 triumph in greensomes for her second straight win. Ui Mendoza-Diane Jang picked up the bestball point and Joan Morales-Marjorie Lopingco lowered the boom on the Sta. Elena bid with a 2 up decision in bestball.

Sta. Elena managed to avert a sweep through Nancy Ortiga and Carmela Lee who claimed a 4&3 result in aggregate play.