After back-to-back setbacks, La Salle hopes to finally bounce back and formalize its entry to the semifinal round of the Shakey’s V-League second conference as it takes on winless St. Benilde today at The Arena in San Juan City.
The Lady Archers get into the 4 p.m. encounter with the Lady Blazers reeling from losses to UST and Adamson but the three-time champions are expected to dominate their sister-school, which could not seem to get going with four straight losses.
A victory will finally give La Salle the first berth in the Final Four, a slot that came so close to clinch after the Lady Archers swept their four games but turned so elusive following their five-set setback to the Tigresses last Tuesday and a straight-set loss to the surging Lady Falcons last Friday.
Stephanie Mercado, the league’s leading scorer in the early going of the tournament, tries to atone for her measly five-point performance against Adamson as she teams up with Jacqueline Alarca and Manilla Santos in the crucial game for the Lady Archers.
St. Benilde is also coming off a straight-set loss to a resurgent Lyceum and unless the likes of Cattleya Villaluz, Raquel Ordonez Katrina Maranan, Doreen Sanchez and Cindy Velasquez step up with solid games on both sides of the floor, the Lady Blazers are in for another early exit in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and organized by Sports Vision.
San Sebastian, meanwhile, tries to shake off a long rest as it battles reigning UAAP champion Far Eastern U in the 2 p.m. opener with the four-time NCAA titlists eyeing win No. 3 in four games for the boost in their campaign in the short single round-robin elims.
Rysabelle Devanadera, Laurence Ann Latigay and guest player Suzanne Roces are expected to lead the Lady Stags bid against the Lady Tams, currently outside of the Final Four group with an even 2-2 slate.
Surprised by the Lady Pirates the last time out, the Lady Tams are raring to get back into the thick of things but Rachel Daquis, Shaira Gonzalez and Irish Morada should double their effort to topple a solid San Sebastian side.
For updates and results, visit the tournament website at www.v-league.ph. The league is backed by Active White skin whitening products, Mikasa and Accel.
Meanwhile, the San Sebastian-FEU game will be telecast on NBN-4 starting at 2 p.m. tomorrow with replays on both Viva Prime Channel on Destiny Cable and Makisig Channel on Sky Cable. The La Salle-St. Benilde match will be telecast on Tuesday.