NU, FEU zero in on Shakey’s V-L quarterfinals

Games today

12:45 p.m. – Arellano vs NU

3 p.m. – FEU vs PUP

5 p.m. – SSC vs TIP

MANILA, Philippines - National U and Far Eastern U try to close in on the first two quarterfinal berths in Group A as they shoot for their third straight victories against Arellano U and Polytechnic University of the Philippines, respectively, today in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.

But while the Lady Tams are fancied to roll past the winless PUP side at 3 p.m., the Lady Bulldogs expect some tough challenge from the Lady Chiefs, who have split their first two games in the event sponsored by Shakey’s and presented by PLDT Home Ultera.

The NU-Arellano match will be aired live on GMA News TV Channel 11 starting at 12:45 p.m. with the Lady Bulldogs out to showcase their form against the Lady Chiefs who lost steam against the Lady Tams last week.

Jaja Santiago, who has blossomed into one mean of an attacker, hopes to come up with a follow-up to her 23-hit effort against University of Batangas, which the Lady Bulldogs clobbered via a 25-16, 25-14, 25-19 romp to chalk up their second win in a row.

Edjet Mabbayad, taking over the coaching reins from Roger Gorayeb, also expects Myla Pablo to put in another solid game along with mainstays Aiko Urdas, Kathryn Paran, skipper Jorelle Singh, Rica Diolan, Joy Doromal and Ivy Perez with former ace and guest player Dindin Santiago-Manabat ready to step up at any given time.

But the Lady Chiefs are raring to slug it out with the Lady Bulldogs, with the latter’s former standout Carmina Aganon, together with fellow guest player Lilet Mabbayad, providing the firepower, experience and poise for the Legarda-based squad.

Coach Roberto Javier will also be relying on Danna Henon, Menchie Tubiera, Shirley Salamagos and skipper Joy Rosario, guaranteeing an action-packed encounter in the featured match of another triple-bill in the weekend-only league where it all started.

Technological Institute of the Philippines, meanwhile, seeks to bolster its quarterfinal drive in Group B as it clashes with winless San Sebastian at 5 p.m.

TIP snatched a five-setter against La Salle-Dasmariñas after losing the first two sets last July 12 but dropped a 1-3 setback to St. Benilde last week to slip to joint third with UST, behind the 2-0 cards of joint leaders Ateneo and St. Benilde.

Meanwhile, the FEU-PUP match will be shown on GMA News TV Channel 11 on Monday starting at 1 p.m. while the TIP-SSC game will be aired on Tuesday, according to the organizing Sports Vision.