Army, Sandugo duel for Shakey's V-League lead

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Army and Sandugo-San Sebastian get to test each other’s mettle, strength and firepower as they clash today in what promises to be a slambang duel of unbeaten teams in the Shakey’s V-League Open at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The match, set at 6 p.m., is also billed as a preview of the championship based on the two teams’ performances just one week into the double round elims of the league’s mid-season offering sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

Army swept Navy and fended off Far Eastern U in four before surviving a gritty Cagayan side in the decider to share the lead with the powerhouse Sandugo-SSC side, which beat Ateneo, nipped Cagayan in five and then swept Navy.

Jeng Bualee, who let her teammates run the show against Navy Friday, is expected to explode and lead the Lady Stags’ drive against the defending champions with support to come from fellow Thai Utaiwan Kaensing, Angela Benting and the talented duo of Suzanne Roces and former MVP Nene Bautista.

Army, on the other hand, hopes to still come out strong after being dragged by the Rising Suns to a grueling five-setter, also last Friday, with a combo of power-hitters, led by Rachel Ann Daquis, sisters Michelle and Marietta Carolino and Cristina Salak and the shot-blocking tandem of Joanne Bunag and Jacqueline Alarca.

Meanwhile, Ateneo seized solo third as it swept Far Eastern U, 25-20, 25-18, 25-21, late Friday but faces a tough task against Cagayan Valley in the 2 p.m. opener.

Games can be viewed live via streaming on www.v-league.ph, according to the organizing Sports Visions. The Ateneo-Cagayan match will be aired on Tuesday starting at 7 p.m. on AKTV with the Navy-FEU game set at 9 p.m.

The Sandugo-Army clash will be telecast on Wednesday, also starting at 7 p.m.

Although the Rising Suns are coming off back-to-back losses, the newcomers remain a force to reckon with in the tournament backed by Mikasa and Accel as their two setbacks were via five-set results that could’ve gone either way.

That should keep Ateneo focused on the task at hand, with Alyssa Valdez, Dzi Gervacio, Fille Cainglet, Gretchen Ho and Jorella de Jesus on the offensive end.

Expect Cagayan to step up, too behind the league-leading scorer Sandra delos Santos, Honey Tubino, Joy Cases and Thai reinforcements Kunbang Pornpimol and Sutadta Chuewulim.