Lady Eagles brace for tough duel vs Chiefs

Games tomorrow

12:45 p.m. – UP vs UST

3 p.m. – Arellano vs Ateneo

MANILA, Philippines - Scoring leader Alyssa Valdez hopes to stay in shape and in top form as Ateneo braces for a strong Arellano U comeback when the reigning champions of their respective collegiate leagues face off in a key duel at resumption of the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Collegiate Conference quarterfinals tomorrow at The Arena in San Juan City.

Though the Eagles remain the lone unbeaten team with a four-set win over the UP Lady Maroons last week, the UAAP titlists remain wary of the Lady Chiefs, who are raring to bounce back from a heartbreaking five-set setback to a resurgent UST side, also last week.

That dropped the NCAA champs to fifth at 2-2 and outside of the semifinal circle with the Lady Chiefs needing a victory to stay in the hunt for one of the coveted slots in the Final Four of the mid-season tournament of the league presented by PLDT Home Ultera.

At this stage, Ateneo is a shoo-in for one of the semis spots with National U, Far Eastern U and UST all tied at 3-1 and La Salle-Dasmariñas staying alive at 1-3. St. Benilde and UP, with identical 0-4 cards, are virtually out of it all.

Valdez has been dishing out solid games since she came back into full action midway in the elims. The power-hitting dynamo, who punched in 29 hits, including the last four that finished off the Lady Maroons, will again be the marked player for Ateneo in the 3 p.m. match along with Jhoanna Maraguinot, who has also been turning in consistent games that have installed the Lady Eagles as the heavy title favorites.

But Arellano is out to stop the duo and the rest of the squad. Coach Roberto Javier confident of drawing the best from guest players Carmina Aganon and Lilet Mabbayad, skipper Cristine Rosario and mainstays Danna Henson, Menchie Tubiera and Angelica Legacion.