UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas and San Sebastian
clash today in Game 1 of their best-of-three showdown for the
Shakey’s V-League second conference crown, with the Tigresses
out to relive their winning tradition and the Lady Stags
raring to score a breakthrough win.
The Tigresses nipped the Stags in a
five-setter in the eliminations, helped along by the
sidelining of SSC’s top blocker, Jinni Mondejar, due to
injury. But the Recoletos-based squad is setting out for the 4
p.m. encounter in top shape and oozing with confidence after
sweeping La Salle in their Final Four duel.
In contrast, UST needed to sweep the last
two games to turn back Adamson in their own semis playoff to
reach the final for the sixth time.
After winning three titles, the Tigresses
skipped the first conference this year to reorganize following
the graduation of some of its top players. With the right
motivation and intense training under coach Cesael delos
Santos, the Tigresses have blossomed anew into another
championship caliber team, headed by Venus Bernal, Mary Jean
Balse, Aiza Maizo, Maika Ortiz, Judy Ann Caballejo and Bernice
Co.
San Sebastian is hungry for the title,
having fallen short in its first two cracks at the
championship. The Lady Stags look good, however, with a team
built around the league’s top scorer, Laurence Ann Latigay,
along with Suzanne Roces, Rysabelle Devanadera, Analyn Joy
Benito, setter Charisse Ancheta and Mondejar.
La Salle and Adamson dispute third place in a separate
best-of-three playoff starting at 2 o’clock.
