Moment of truth for UST, SSC

THEY split the first two games in straight sets but the rubber match for the sixth Shakey’s V-League crown today is expected to go the distance this time as University of Santo Tomas and San Sebastian College fight for all the marbles at The Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Stags, seeking a second straight championship after beating the Tigresses in two games in last year’s second conference finals, took the opener of the best-of-three series 25-17, 25-22, 25-19. But the Espana-based squad foiled the Lady Stags’ bid for a sweep with a 25-21, 25-22, 25-23 victory last Sunday to force the sudden death.

Despite UST’s win, scored before a conference-record crowd of 3,923 in the 3,500-seater arena, odds are just about even, with both expected to come up with adjustments and surprises in a bid to startle each other’s patterns.

The game is at 4 p.m. with a live webcast on www.v-league.ph. The SSC-UST clash will be aired on NBN-4 starting at 2 p.m. tomorrow.

The winner-take-all match, a clash of firepower, defense and reception, may also turn out to be a personal duel between UST’s Mary Jean Balse and SSC Thai import Jaroensri Bualee, who figured in a tight battle for the MVP honors this conference.

Balse nipped Bualee for the coveted crown Sunday, becoming the first player to cop the award twice after winning in 2004. The feat also motivated the UST hitter to dish out a 13-point performance to help keep the team’s bid for a fourth straight championship alive.

Bualee, who settled for the top scoring honors, is expected to go flat out as she tries to prove her worth as the league’s top player and anchor the Lady Stags’ drive for another crown in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and Cherifer.