UST, La Salle get feel of title series

University of Santo Tomas and La Salle clash today in a preview of the championship although they are expected to hold their punches in time for their keenly-awaited duel for the 2005 Shakey’s V-League first conference crown at the Rizal Coliseum.

Still, the 5 p.m. encounter remains a game to watch with the Tigresses and the Lady Archers likely to come up with new plays and combinations they could use in a bid to surprise each other when the finals is held beginning July 4.

The championship, a best-of-three affair, gives way to the World Volleyball Grand Prix slated July 1-3.

"Of course, we’ll play as hard, pero I’d like to give some of my players a chance to play," said UST mentor August Sta. Maria, who steered the Tigresses to the first conference crown over the Lady Archers in the inaugural staging of this event sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza last year.

"I might rest some of my players and allow some of my new players to play," said La Salle coach Ramil de Jesus, who will also handle the RP women’s squad seeing action in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games slated Nov. 27-Dec. 5 in the Philippines.

The Taft-based tossers got back at the Tigresses in the second conference finals, thus making their third finals meeting truly a series to watch.

Leaning on gutsy plays by the power-hitting troika of Roxanne Pimentel, Mary Jean Balse and Joyce Paño, UST edged a hard-fighting San Sebastian College, 25-13, 20-25, 27-25, 27-25, to complete the finals cast.

La Salle was the first to seal the first berth into the championships when it smothered arch-rival Ateneo, 25-15, 29-27, 25-19, with its own lethal trio of Michelle Carolino, Maureen Penetrante and Manilla Santos doing most of the damage.

The Lady Eagles (2-3) and the Lady Stags (0-5) clash at 3 p.m. in another non-bearing contest. The two will again play each other on Monday in a knockout match for third place in the event backed by Accel, Mikasa, Dunkin’ Donuts, IBC-13 and Jemah Television.