Lady Eagles, Bulldogs resume title campaign

Games today (Quarters)

2 p.m. – Arellano vs National U

4 p.m. – Davao vs Ateneo

MANILA, Philippines - Women’s volley action heats up today with title favorites Ateneo and National U taking on Davao and Arellano U, respectively, in a pair of explosive matches kicking off the quarterfinal round of the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 First Conference at The Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Eagles, who nipped the Lady Chiefs and the Adamson Lady Falcons in the tiebreak to clinch the Group A top seeding in the elims, test the Davao Agilas’ mette in what promises to be a slambang duel of power in the 4 p.m. main game.

The Agilas made quite an impression on their very first stint in the league sponsored by Shakey’s, finishing tied for first in Group B with the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses and the Lady Bulldogs before settling for third place in the elims.

The Mindanao-based squad, bannered by the power-hitting troika of May Agton, Venus Flores and Jocemer Tapic, hopes to step up its game against the fancied Lady Eagles, who boast of one of the league’s top spikers in Alyssa Valdez, also the reigning UAAP MVP.

Every game counts in the single round quarters phase of the event backed by Mikasa, Accel and Lion Tiger Mosquito Coil, with Ateneo and UST actually toting 1-0 cards following their elims wins over groupmates Adamson and Davao, respectively.

Arellano and NU also hold similar 1-0 slates in Group 2 and Adamson, Davao, St. Benilde and FEU all with 0-1 cards as per the league’s format.

That makes each match crucial with the Agilas out to spring a surprise over the Lady Eagles the way they did against the Lady Bulldogs, whom they beat in four last April 24.

The Arellano-NU matchup at 2 p.m. is also tipped to go down-to-the-wire with the Lady Chiefs out to sustain their top form behind Danna Henson, Cristine Joy Rosario, Menchie Tubiera, Elaine Sagun and setter Angelica Legacion.

Games can be viewed live on streaming on www.v-league.ph with today’s matches to be showed on a delayed basis tomorrow starting at 1 p.m. on GMA News TV Channel, according to the organizing Sports Vision.