Lady Archers eye solo lead today

Heavy favorite La Salle guns for the solo lead as it takes on Lyceum College even as defending champion University of Santo Tomas and Ateneo part ways at No. 3 today in the 2005 Shakey’s V-League first conference at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Tied with the San Sebastian Lady Stags at the helm with a pristine 2-0 (win-loss) slate, the Lady Archers shoot for win No. 3 against the Lady Pirates, winless in two starts, at 3 p.m. of this event bankrolled by Shakey’s Pizza.

Leaning on the power-hitting duo of Michelle Carolino and Maureen Penetrante, the 2004 second conference champion notched a second straight victory at the expense of Far Eastern U, 25-21, 25-20, 25-20, to join surprise leader San Sebastian atop the heap.

The Tigresses, the defending champions, for their part, seek a follow-up to their 25-16, 25-19, 25-17 bashing of the Lady Pirates Thursday at the latter’s gym in Intramuros, Manila.

But Ateneo, a newcomer in this tournament backed by Accel, Mikasa, IBC 13 and Jemah Television, isn’t a pushover.

Backstopped by Amelia Guanco, a member of the RP team that gave the country its last Southeast Asian Games gold medal in Singapore in 1993, and diminutive but lightning quick libero Charlie Tan, part of the Philippine Sports Commission squad that made it to the semifinals last conference, Ateneo split its two games by beating Lyceum, 25-21, 29-27, 19-25, 22-25, 15-12.

"Hindi rin basta-basta ang Ateneo, malakas din sila," said UST coach August Sta. Maria, who steered the España-based school to last year’s crown before losing to La Salle in the finals last conference.