Perpetual, USC spikers duel for last slot

Games today

2 p.m. - USC vs Perpetual

4 p.m. - UST vs Letran

MANILA, Philippines - Perpetual Help and University of San Carlos face off for the last quarterfinal berth in Group B even as Letran fights for dear life against University of Santo Tomas in Group A in the Shakey’s V-League Season 10 First Conference at The Arena in San Juan today.

Both winless heading to the penultimate playdate of the single round elims, the Lady Altas and the Lady Warriors go for the elusive win and a berth in the next round.

With a 0-2 card, Perpetual actually still has a chance even if it bows to USC with one more game left against Adamson. But the Lady Altas will surely be going all-out for the win today to avoid facing a tougher, more experienced opponent Sunday.

In contrast, USC is in a must-win situation with coach Norvie Labuga hoping to draw the best from Meth Bate, Chona Gesulga, Abigail Praca, Suzette Panis, Nina Cortes, libero Regine Obinque and setter Theresa Aranas.

Perpetual coach Jason Sapin, on the other hand, will pin his hopes on veteran Joy Cases, Honey Royse Tobuino, Norie Diaz, April Sartin and Mei Agarin as the Lady Altas try to rebound from a heartbreaking five-set setback to the unbeaten National U Lady Bulldogs last Tuesday.

Letran, meanwhile, hopes to pull off a miracle of sorts as it takes on UST at 4 p.m., needing no less than a victory in a bid to stay in the hunt in the tough Group A of the tournament backed by Mikasa and Accel.

The Lady Knights lost their first three games, including a four-setter to a resurgent San Sebastian side last Tuesday that sent them to the brink of elimination.

But they will have to outdo themselves to beat the Tigresses, who swept their last two games after an opening day loss to the unbeaten back-to-back defending champion Ateneo Lady Eagles.

San Sebastian overcame a determined Letran side and finally nailed the elusive win after back-to-back losses, scoring a 25-17, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23 victory to tie La Salle-Dasmariñas at third at 1-2 slates.

Czarina Berbano fired away a vicious attack on the side that stopped the Lady Knights, who battled back from seven points down by winning six straight points to threaten at 23-24 in the fourth.

But the Lady Stags withstood the Knights’ surge to revive their hopes while sending their rivals to the brink with a 0-3 card.

Meanwhile, the SSC-Letran match last Tuesday will be shown today, starting at 1 p.m. on GMA News TV Channel 11 while the Perpetual-USC match today will be aired tomorrow, also at 1 p.m., according to the organizing Sports Vision.