Ateneo and La Salle collide today in a sudden death with the winner staying in the hunt for the second finals berth and the loser bowing out of the race in the Shakey’s V-League Second Conference at The Arena in San Juan.
Gametime is at 5 p.m.
Although Ateneo (6-3) is just one-and-a-half game behind the second running San Sebastian College (7-1), the Lady Stags are fancied to roll over the ousted Adamson Lady Falcons in the 3 p.m. opener and tie the idle UST Tigresses for the lead at 8-1.
That leaves the Loyola-based tossers, with a one-win, one-loss slate in the semis, no option but to sweep their last two games to avail themselves of the league’s 3-of-4 incentive for a playoff for the second championship berth.
After dropping a five-setter to the Tigresses last Sunday, the former three-time champion Lady Archers, with a 3-5 mark, must also sweep their last three games to keep their flickering finals hopes alive in the Shakey’s Pizza-sponsored league.
La Salle actually swept Ateneo in their elims clash last Nov. 5 with Maureen Penetrante and Jacqueline Alarca combining for 30 points and the team’s defense holding Ateneo’s prolific hitter Lithawat Kesinee to 14 points.
But the Thai import is expected to come out strong this time as she tries to lift the Lady Eagles to the all-important victory for the needed push in their equally crucial match against the Tigresses, winners of the first conference, on Sunday.
The Lady Stags, meanwhile, are tipped to repeat over the Adamson tossers, who they demolished in three sets in the elimination round of the tournament organized by Sports Vision.
The Lady Falcons bowed out of the finals race after losing to the Lady Eagles in straight sets last Sunday, their second straight in the single round semis for a 4-5 card.
The SSC-Adamson encounter will be shown on NBN-4 tomorrow starting at 2 p.m. while the Ateneo-La Salle clash will be aired on Thursday.
For updates on the country’s premier volley league, backed by Mikasa, Accel, 100Plus Isotonic Drink, Coca-Cola and Active White Skin whitening products, log on to www.v-league.ph.