Games today
2 p.m. – Arellano U vs SWU
4 p.m. – St. Louis U vs Adamson
MANILA, Philippines - Southwestern U hopes to come out smarter and stronger from its scrambling five-set win over St. Louis U last Tuesday as it clashes with Arellano U, looking for the solo lead in Group A in the early going of the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 First Conference at The Arena in San Juan.
The Lady Cobras wavered but toughened up in the decider, leading on guest player Lutgarda Malaluan’s endgame heroics to finally subdue the stubborn Lady Navigators, 25-20, 23-25, 25-15, 21-25, 19-17, in the second playdate of the season-opening conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.
But the rookie-laden Cebuanas are expected to have their hands full against the Lady Chiefs, bannered by skipper Lou Oserio and backstopped by guest players Eleonor Sierra and Ronerry dela Cruz and mainstays Danna Henson and Menchie Tubiera.
Gametime is at 2 p.m. with SWU seeking another win and a boost to its quarterfinal bid in the league backed by Mikasa, Accel and Akari.
The top four teams from each group will advance to the Last 8 phase after the single round elims, thus making each game in the single round elims important.
Newcomers Janelle Cabahug, Sheena Quino and Loida Abellana combined for 32 hits for SWU against SLU with the troika expected to further step up their respective games against the Lady Chiefs, who are also out to make an impact this conference.
Adamson and SLU, meanwhile, tangle at 4 p.m. with the Lady Falcons seeking to bounce back from a close four-set loss to the reigning UAAP champion Ateneo in last Sunday’s inaugurals of Season 11 of the league where it all started.
Guest players Pau Soriano and Thai Pacharee Sangmuang, whose combined 36-hit effort proved not enough to topple the Lady Eagles, are again tipped to lead the San Marcelino-based tossers’ bid along with Shiela Pineda, Mylene Paat, Marleen Cortel and May Macatuno.
But the Lady Navigators are also raring to rebound from that heart-breaker of a loss to the Lady Cobras as they go for a breakthrough win in the league behind the power-hitting Krissian Tsuchiya, who rammed in 26 hits against SWU, Colleen Rossi, Roxanne Almonte, Florence Madulid, Elaine Joy Daniel and skipper Marian Torres.
Meanwhile, FEU-San Sebastian match last Tuesday will be shown on GMA News TV starting at 1 p.m. today while the SWU-Arellano clash will be aired tomorrow. The Adamson-SLU duel, on the other hand, will be telecast on Monday, according to the organizing Sports Vision.