Sandugo-SSC, Army try to stay unbeaten

MANILA, Philippines - Sandugo-San Sebastian College and Philippine Army try to keep their unbeaten slates for a continued share of the lead as they clash with Navy and Cagayan Valley, respectively, in the Shakey’s V-League Open at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium today.

The Lady Stags hope to recover from their scrambling five-set victory over the Rising Suns last Tuesday where they blew a 2-0 set lead before hanging tough in the decider to pull off the win, the second straight after besting the Ateneo Lady Eagles in last Sunday’s opener.

Ranged against a team that dropped its first two games, Sandugo-SSC is fancied to get past Navy in their 4 p.m. match although the Lady Stags remain wary of their rivals who are raring to nail the elusive win in the mid-season conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and backed by Mikasa and Accel.

The Army ladies, on the other hand, face a tough rival in the Rising Suns, who disposed of the Far Eastern U Lady Tams in the opener and nearly completed a stirring reversal over the Lady Stags.

The newcomers are again expected to match up strong with the Lady Troopers behind early scoring leader Sandra delos Santos, Honey Tubino, Joy Cases, Jen Manzano and Thai reinforcements Sutadta Chuewulim and Kunbang Pornpimol.

Rachel Ann Daquis, Iari Yongco, Joanne Bunag, sisters Michelle and Marietta Carolino and skipper Cristina Salak are tipped to lead the defending champions’ bid against Cagayan in what promises to be another down-to-the-wire duel.

Ateneo, meanwhile, goes for a follow-up to its three-straight win over Navy last Tuesday as it squares off with FEU in the 6 p.m. main game of another triple-bill.

Games can be viewed live via streaming on www.v-league.ph, according to the organizing Sports Vision. The FEU-Army match last Tuesday will be aired on AKTV tonight starting at 7 p.m. to be followed by the Cagayan-Army match.

The Sandugo-Navy duel will be shown tomorrow from 2 p.m.-4 p.m.