Lady Eagles expect tougher rivals in Shakey’s quarters

MANILA, Philippines - For sweeping the group stages, Ateneo gained a big cushion in the carryover quarters of the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Collegiate Conference but the Lady Eagles remain wary of the opposition, including UAAP rivals National U and Far Eastern U and NCAA titlist Arellano U, when the race to the semis begins tomorrow.

“More effort, hard work,” said Thai Ateneo coach Tai Bundit after his wards dominated the Group B elims with a sweep of its five games in the elims of the mid-season tournament of the league presented by PLDT Home Ultera.

The reigning UAAP champions will carry a 3-0 mark in the quarters but four teams – NU, FEU, Arellano and UST – lurk behind with similar 2-1 cards with La Salle Dasmariñas ranked sixth with a 1-2 card and St. Benilde and University of the Philippines set for a tougher mission with identical 0-3 cards.

Ateneo’s other victories over two eliminated teams – San Sebastian and Technological Institute of the Philippines – won’t count in the quarters of the event sponsored by Shakey’s and backed by Mikasa and Accel.

But they remain the solid favorites when Alyssa Valdez and company take on the UP Lady Maroons in the 3 p.m. match tomorrow.

Valdez, a vital cog in PLDT Home Ultera’s conquest of the Open crown last May, is expected to step up her game after finishing fourth in the league’s best scoring list with 73 points with some limited stints in the early going of the elims.