Lady Eagles try again vs Troopers

MANILA, Philippines - Foiled the last time out, Ateneo tries to nail the fourth and last Final Four berth as it faces defending champion Army at resumption today of the Shakey’s V-League Open elims at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Lady Eagles, winners of the league’s first conference, dropped a heart-breaking four-setter to the Navy Sailors last Tuesday, enabling the latter to stay in the hunt for the last semis seat while jeopardizing the former’s own bid.

The win was Navy’s second against six losses as it moved closer to fourth running Ateneo, which dropped to 3-5, heading to the last two playdates of the double-round elims in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

Navy, led by Mayi Prochina and Kiteh Rosale, seeks to stay closer or tie Ateneo as it takes on winless Far Eastern U in the 2 p.m. contest.

Ateneo hopes to draw the best from Alyssa Valdez, Fille Cainglet, Dzi Gervacio and Gretchen Ho, as it goes for an all-important win against powerhouse Army at 4 p.m.

League-leading Sandugo-San Sebastian (7-1), meanwhile, seeks to firm up its hold of the top spot as it squares off with Cagayan Valley-Perpetual Help in the 6 p.m. main game.

The battle for the No. 1 seat in the Final Four also turned into a wide-open one after Army stopped Sandugo in five last Sunday. The defending champion Lady Troopers and the newcomer Rising Suns share second at 6-2.

The No. 1 team will play the No. 4 squad in the semis with the Nos. 2 and 3 teams disputing the other finals slot in the pair of best-of-three playoffs. The winners will clash for the crown in another best-of-three affair.

Games can be viewed live on streaming on www.v-league.ph and on AKTV on a delayed basis. The Navy-FEU match will be aired tomorrow starting at 8 p.m. while the Ateneo-Army and Sandugo-Cagayan games will be shown Sept. 11, starting at 7 p.m.