Archers, Eagles set showdown

La Salle and Ateneo slug it out for the second time in the 2005 Shakey’s V-League first conference with the former fancied to repeat its straight-set victory last month and the latter out to become the first team to inflict the front-running squad its first loss today at the Rizal Coliseum.

The Lady Archers are riding the crest of a six-game run, including a sweep of the first round, but pitted against the Lady Eagles, their arch rivals in many collegiate league battles, streak will have to take a backseat when they clash in the main game at 5 p.m.

For one, Ateneo is also coming off back-to-back wins and the Lady Eagles are raring to avenge their 18-25, 23-25, 20-25 defeat to the Taft-based spikers when they debuted in this Shakey’s sponsored-tournament last May 14 at the Ateneo gym.

Toughened up by another loss to San Sebastian and motivated by their four victories along the way, the Lady Eagles hope to come up with a better game behind the likes of former national team mainstay Amy Guanco, Michelle Laborte and ex-La Salle Bacolod standout Cecille Tabuena.

But to stop the rampaging La Salle side, Ateneo must also neutralize to the power-hitting tandem of Maureen Penetrante and Michelle Carolino, who are again expected to spearhead the Lady Archers’ bid for a seventh straight victory in the tournament backed by IBC-13, Jemah Television, ACCEL and Mikasa.

San Sebastian, meanwhile, tries to recover lost grounds as it takes on lowly Far Eastern U in the 3 p.m. opener, hoping to re-start a streak that was abruptly halted at No. 4 by La Salle last week.