San Sebastian guns for volley title

MANILA, Philippines - San Sebastian College hopes to finish off University of Santo Tomas today and re-stake its claim as the country’s top women’s volley team as it shoots for a second straight crown in the Shakey’s V-League presented by Cherifer at The Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Stags came through with a near-flawless game in the opener of their best-of-three playoff and stunned the fancied Tigresses with a straight-set 25-17, 25-22, 25-19, win Thursday to move closer to duplicating their sweep of the three-time champions in last year’s second conference finals.

“We hope to control again their main spikers and do well in our reception,” said Roger Gorayeb, who hopes to draw the best again from Thai import Jaroensri Bualee, Laurence Ann Latigay, Rysabelle Devanadera, Analyn Benito and top setter Charisse Ancheta.

For one, Bualee will surely be going all-out to lead the team to victory and cap her successful campaign in the conference where she is expected to be named the tournament’s MVP.

The league, sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and presented by Cherifer, will honor the conference’s outstanding players in simple rites after the Adamson-FEU game at 2 p.m.

The Lady Falcons are also eyeing a sweep over the Lady Tams for third place honors in the tournament backed by Accel, Mikasa, Mighty Bond and OraCare.

For live webcast of the games, log on to www.v-league.ph. The games will also be aired on NBN-4 starting at 2 p.m. Monday.

Other awards to be disputed are the best spiker, blocker, setter, server, digger and receiver while the Cherifer’s most improved player award is a three-cornered fight among Cherry Vivas and Shaira Gonzales of FEU and SSC’s Joy Benito.

Other contenders for the MVP plum are 2008 second conference winner Lou Ann Latigay, also of SSC, and UST’s pair of hitters Aiza Maizo and Michelle Carolino.

 Tigresses are expected to show their resiliency as they try to re-assert their mastery over the Lady Stags, whom they beat in the elims and the quarters, to force a winner-take-all match for the championship.

But UST must neutralize SSC’s power and improve on its reception with Mary Jean Balse, Rhea Dimaculangan, Maika Ortiz, Carolino and Maizo needing to raise their offensive games a notch higher to force a decider.