Tigresses see Eagles comeback in Game 2

MANILA, Philippines - UST coach Odjie Mamon stresses the need to be aggressive to score a sweep but expect Ateneo to attack and defend to force a sudden death in their title showdown in the ninth Shakey’s V-League Presented by Smart at The Arena in San Juan today.

“We need to be consistent in all skills,” said Mamon after steering the Tigresses to a thrilling come-from-behind 16-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-23 win in Sunday’s opener of their best-of-three series. “Despite our height advantage, they beat us in blocking. This is one area that we have to work on.”

The Eagles, on the other hand, must improve on their reception although Game One could’ve gone either way, the last two sets decided in down-to-the-wire fashions.

Like UST, Ateneo is also tipped to impose its will early on a combination of Alyssa Valdez, Fille Cainglet, Dzi Gervacio, Gretchen Ho and Thai ace blocker Phee Nok Kesinee, ensuring another explosive encounter between the league’s top hitting teams at 4 p.m.

Live streaming of today’s matches can be viewed on www.v-league.ph with AKTV 13 to telecast the games on a delayed basis starting at 7 tonight, according to the organizing Sports Vision.

Mamon hopes to draw the same fire and determination from his gritty crew of Judy Caballejo, Maruja Banaticla, Thai Utaiwan Kaensing, Mary Jean Balse, Maika Ortiz and setter Rhea Dimaculangan as they go for a repeat and mark their return to the league with no less than a championship against the current leading team.

Aside from Ortiz, who was able to score against the league’s top blocker Kesinee in the crucial fourth set, Caballejo played big for UST in Game 1.

Caballejo, who won the Best Server honors, paced the Tigresses with 15 points.

“Judy has been playing consistent ball ever since,” said Mamon.

UST has won six titles in the league, sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and backed by Mikasa and Accel, before taking a leave in the second conference of the 2010 season.

Ateneo, on the other hand, is gunning for its third crown after ruling the second conference crown of the 2010 season and this conference last year.

Meanwhile, San Sebastian College also tries to finish off University of Perpetual Help System Dalta in their own series for third place at 2 p.m.

Conference MVP Jeng Bualee fired 34 markers to lift the Lady Stags to a 25-14, 25-23, 16-25, 32-34, 15-9 win in Game One.