Lady Eagles seek lead share vs Altas

MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo and Perpetual Help clash today in a duel between a fancied, tested team and a promising squad, each looking for a victory and a share of the early lead with top favorite San Sebastian-Excelroof in the Shakey’s V-League Season 7 at The Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Eagles, who swept the FEU Lady Tams to kick off their title campaign last Sunday, hope to use their experience and chemistry to topple the Lady Altas, who stunned the Adamson Lady Falcons in a five-set thriller last Thursday.

Gametime is at 4 p.m.

Perpetual Help unleashed a pair of power-hitting aces in Sandra delos Santos and Ronerry dela Cruz, who combined with guest player Nica Guliman in pulling off a come-from-behind victory over the Lady Falcons.

But the rest of the Lady Altas, including the other guest player Michelle Datuin, must step up against the powerhouse Ateneo squad, led by Thai import Boonyuen Surasawadee and local aces Gretchen Ho, Bea Pascual, Angeline Gervacio, Fille Cainglet and Denise Acevedo.

Equally interesting is the 6 p.m. match between National U and Adamson with the Lady Bulldogs out to come up with a follow-up to their five-set win over St. Benilde in the inaugurals of the second conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and organized by Sports Vision.

The Lady Tams and the Lady Blazers, meanwhile, square off in the 2 p.m. opener, each going for a victory after dropping their first two matches.

NU also unveiled promising players in Mervic Mangui, Maricar Nepomuceno, Elaine Sagun and Jocelyn Soliven who hit it off with guest players Denise Santiago and

Daphne Santiago to give the Lady Bulldogs an inspiring start in the tournament backed by Accel, Mikasa and Excelroof.

But they will be up against an Adamson team raring to bounce back from its sorry loss to Perpetual Help with the Lady Falcons hoping to avoid the specter of

falling to the league’s newcomers in the early going of the season-ending conference.

SSC-Excelroof, bannered by Thai resident import Jeng Bualee and local stars Joy Benito, Suzanne Roces, Elaine Cruz and Melissa Mirasol, has lived up to the hype, at least in the first two games, as it posted a pair of straight-set

victories over Lyceum and St. Benilde to lead the field.