Lady Tams, Falcons eye last V-League finals berth

Game today

4 p.m. – Adamson vs FEU

MANILA, Philippines - Far Eastern U has the momentum but Adamson has the experience as they clash for the third time in five days – a sudden death for the other finals berth in the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 First Conference at The Arena in San Juan today.

The Lady Tams moved in the threshold of a breakthrough finals stint in the country’s premier women’s volley league when they upended the Lady Falcons via a three-set win last Tuesday, forcing a do-or-die for the right to face the National U Lady Bulldogs for the crown.

Drawing strength from the power-hitting pair of ace reinforcements Rachel Ann Daquis and Jovelyn Gonzaga and the ever-steady game of Bernadette Pons, the Morayta-based squad foiled the Lady Falcons’ sweep bid and found themselves knocking on the finals door and a first-ever shot at the title in the league sponsored by Shakey’s.

FEU, one of the league’s pioneers, has never been in this position – aiming for a finals appearance, its highest finish being third in Season 6 Second Conference won by UST over Adamson. And the Lady Tams, enjoying top form with the late arrival of Daquis and Gonzaga, are thrilled over the prospect of getting a crack at the elusive, coveted plum.

But to realize their dream, coach Cesael delos Santos must draw the best from his talented crew although he stressed the need to toughen up their defense, both from the floor and the net.

“I have to give it to my attackers particularly the three – Daquis, Gonzaga and Pons – for their aggressiveness,” said delos Santos.

“But I think it’s our defense that helped us win (in Game Two). And we will need to do that in Game Three for us to have a chance to win this series,” he added.

FEU has indeed found a way to neutralize Adamson’s vaunted attackers with a rock-solid net defense.

Shiela Pineda and Thai reinforcement Pacharee Sangmuang were held to just a combined 27 hits, a far cry from their 44-hit effort in the Lady Falcons’ 19-25, 22-25, 26-24, 25-15, 15-12 win in the opener of their best-of-three series in the season-opening conference of the league backed by Mikasa, Accel and Lion Tiger Mosquito Coil.

Adamson mentor Sherwin Meneses, on the other hand, said they start out strong to seize control.

“We’ve been starting bad in first two games. We need to find a way to break that bad habit and get into the rhythm early,” said Meneses.

The winner will face defending champion National U for the crown in another best-of-three playoff starting Sunday to be shown live on GMA News TV Channel, according to the organizing Sports Vision.

Today’s sudden death can be viewed live on www.v-league.ph.