Lady Eagles seek q’final; Agilas debut versus Tams

Games today

2 p.m. – FEU vs Davao

4 p.m. – St. Benilde vs Ateneo

MANILA, Philippines - UAAP champion Ateneo resumes its quarterfinal drive as it tangles with St. Benilde today in a top Group A match even as Davao finally makes its Shakey’s V-League debut against Far Eastern U in Group B at The Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Eagles are slightly favored over the Lady Blazers in their 4 p.m. encounter despite coming off a long break, their last win, a 3-0 rout of the ousted Southwestern U Lady Cobras, coming last April 6.

The Taft-based St. Benilde side is also coming off a long layout but the Lady Blazers are raring to rebound from a 0-3 loss to quarterfinalist the Arellano Lady Chiefs last April 3 and resume their own quarters bid.

Top hitters Alyssa Valdez and Amy Ahomiro are expected to spearhead Ateneo’s bid for a third win in four games and join Arellano and Adamson in the next round along with Group B qualifier National U, which swept its first four games.

With a 1-1 card, St. Benilde is also out to shore up its quarters bid with Therese Veronas, Jeanette Panaga and Maureen Loren tipped to lead the team’s charge and somehow exact some revenge from the very team that humbled their fancied sister school La Salle in the last UAAP women’s volley finals.

Focus will also be on the 2 p.m. encounter between Davao and FEU with the Agilas kicking off a busy five-game straight schedule in the season-opening tournament of the league sponsored by Shakey’s and backed by Mikasa, Accel and Lion Tiger Mosquito Coil.

The Agilas are bannered by guest player Venus Flores and backstopped by Princess Oliveros, Reynelen Raterta, Mae Antipuesto and Cherry Ann Balse.