Army, SSC fancied as V-League semis starts

MANILA, Philippines - Army and San Sebastian try to live up to the hype as they battle Ateneo and Navy, respectively, in the opener of the Final Four of the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference today at The Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Troopers and the Lady Stags have dominated the elims and the quarters with their power games and have been installed the favorites to clash for the league’s season-ending conference.

But the Lady Eagles and the Lady Sailors are expected to pour it all out to frustrate the fancied teams and fan their own drive for a crack at the “inaugural” Open championship in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

Army and Ateneo slug it out first at 2 p.m. before SSC, seeking to end a long title drought in the league organized by Sports Vision, and Navy collide at 4 p.m. in a pair of best-of-three series.

Although Army needed four sets to topple Ateneo in their two faceoffs in the elims and the quarters, observers note the Lady Troopers have the edge over the Eagles in terms of firepower.

They have the Carolino sisters – Michelle and Marietta – who have been dishing out consistent games. And with the likes of Rachel Ann Daquis, Joanne Buñag and Mary Jean Balse joining in the attack, the Eagles would need to double their effort to neutralize or limit the vaunted Army onslaught on the net.

Ateneo also boasts of two of the league’s top hitters – Alyssa Valdez and Fille Cainglet – and a dependable crew made up of Dzi Gervacio, Gretchen Ho, Aerieal Patnongon and Dennise Lazaro. But the Eagles must raise their games a notch higher to turn things around for the first conference champions.

The Eagles stayed on track for another crack at the crown by edging the Air Force side in sudden death for the last semis berth in the tournament backed by Accel, Mikasa and Maynilad Water.

Like Army, the Lauren Ford-led SSC is tipped to hurdle Navy although the Lady Sailors beat the Lady Stags in straight sets in the elims and dragged them to five-sets before yielding in the quarters.

But the Navy ladies will have to find ways to limit the production of Ford, who has been lording it over the net with a 17.1 hit in 12 games.

Ford also enjoys solid support from Thai Jang Baulee, Joy Benito, Rubie de Leon, Jill Gustilo and Janet Doria, making the Lady Stags a solid favorite.

But like Ateneo, Navy also has a crew of power hitters, including former MVPs Nene Bautista and Suzanne Roces with Michelle Laborte, Cecile Cruzada, Rose Prochina, Janet Serafica and Johanna Carpio ready to provide the needed backup.

For live streaming of the games, log on to www.v-league.ph. Games are also aired on a delayed basis on NBN-4 and GMA-7 ‘s international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA LifeTV and GMA News TV the day after each game.