La Salle tossers try again vs Falcons

Foiled the last time out, La Salle tries again to book the first semifinal berth in the Shakey’s V-League second conference as it collides with a surging Adamson side today at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Lady Archers swept their first four matches in convincing fashions but fell to the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses in a thrilling five-setter last Tuesday, stalling their march to the next round of the tournament sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

But the Taft-based spikers will be up against a streaking Adamson side, which racked three straight wins after dropping a five-setter to Far Eastern U last Oct. 19.

Both teams are expected to come up with key adjustments in their 2 p.m. encounter in a bid to startle each other‘s play patterns with three-time champion La Salle tipped to rely on Manilla Santos and Stephanie Mercado in offense and Jacqueline Alarca and Celine Hernandez in defense.

Adamson, seeing a second straight championship after topping the first conference of the league organized by Sports Vision, hopes to draw solid games from the foursome of Rissa Laguilles, Angela Benting, Paulina Soriano and the power-hitting MVP Nerissa Bautista.

“If we continue to play with a lot of discipline and good floor defense, I think we have a chance against La Salle,” said Adamson coach Dulce Pante.

Meanwhile, Lyceum shoots for its second straight win after upending UAAP champion FEU against winless St. Benilde in the other game at 4 p.m.

The Lady Pirates showed up with Beverly Boto, who fired 16 hits and led four others with double-digit outputs to power the team to an 18-25, 25-21, 25-21, 19-25, 15-9 victory over the fancied Lady Tams late Tuesday night.

It was Lyceum’s first win after dropping its first three games as it stayed in the hunt for a spot in the semis. FEU dropped to 2-2.