La Salle sweeps FEU in
V-League opener

WITH Amy Guanco and Manilla Santos anchoring the attack, four-peat seeking La Salle swept Far Eastern University 25-16, 25-17, 25-21 to join San Sebastian and Lyceum in the early lead of the Shakey’s V-League that started yesterday at The Arena in San Juan City.

Guanco, one of La Salle’s two guest players, had 11 points while Santos added nine as the three-time champions dominated the Lady Tams in the first two sets en route to the straight sets victory.

It was a rousing start for the Taft-based squad bidding to extend its domination of the league to another conference after ruling the last three stagings of the event sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and organized by Sports Vision Management Group, Inc.

Earlier, former NCAA back-to-back champion San Sebastian and Lyceum scored similar four-set victories over separate rivals to kick off their respective campaigns.

The SSC spikers, who reigned supreme in the NCAA in the 2005-06 seasons, put their acts together after a shaky start, with import Jaroensri Bualee, Laurence Ann Latigay and Rysabelle Devanadera combining to power the team to a 24-26, 25-16, 25-18, 25-15 victory over Letran.

Lyceum, behind guest player Josielyn Degorostiza and mainstay Sherrilyn Carrillo, outlasted Ateneo in a game that was close throughout, hacking out a tough 28-26, 25-23, 22-25, 25-23 victory in one hour and 45 minutes of a power game.

San Juan City Mayor JV Ejercito welcomed the organizers, sponsors and participants of the event to the league’s new home at The Arena in simple rites. The league also paid tribute to the late Sports Vision president and former PBA commissioner Emilio "Jun" Bernardino Jr.

Also gracing the event were Bernardino’s widow Mimi and children Vera, Kristine, Nolan and wife Marga, Shakey’s president and CEO Leo Prieto Jr., Shakey’s general manager Vic Gregorio, Shakey’s consultant Chukri Prieto, and SVMGI officials, including chairman Moying Martelino, vice president Ricky Palou, treasurer-director Elmer Yanga, director Rhea Navarro and tournament director Tony Boy Liao.

The opening ceremonies and the La Salle-FEU match will be telecast over NBN-4 at 2 p.m. today. The SSC-Letran tussle will be aired tomorrow while the Lyceum-Ateneo encounter will be shown on Monday, also starting at 2 p.m.

San Sebastian, the losing finalist last conference, drew 23 points from Bualee, 21 from attacks, while Latigay and Devanadera tossed in 16 and 12 points, respectively.