Shakey’s V-League; Troopers eye finals versus Suns

MANILA, Philippines - Army and Cagayan Valley bring their rivalry to another level as they slug it out today with the Lady Troopers seeking to formalize their stint in the women’s finals and the Rising Suns trying to boost their own bid in the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Third Conference at The Arena in San Juan City last night.

The Lady Troopers, who overpowered the Meralco Power Spikers in the opener, came from behind to nip the Rising Suns in five in their first round duel last Oct. 7 and went on to post two more wins to move closer to another crack at the championship.

But the Open Conference champions expect another tough outing in their 6 p.m. clash with the Rising Suns, who are coming off fresh from a week-long rest after a pair of sweeps over PLDT Home Telpad and Meralco.

A victory by Army will net it the first finals berth in the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s and backed by Mikasa and Accel. But a reversal will keep Cagayan Valley, toting a 2-1 card, and third running PLDT Home Telpad, despite its 2-2 card, in the hunt with three more playdates left in the double-round robin elims among four teams.

Instituto Estetico Manila also tries to nail the first finals seat in the inaugural men’s play as it collides with a struggling Far Eastern U side in the 4 p.m. opener.

The Volley Masters are tied with the Systema Active Smashers in the lead at 3-1 with the former confident of duplicating the straight-set victory over the Tams last Oct. 14 to advance to the finals.

Tied with Rizal Technological University at 1-3, FEU hopes to sweep its last two matches and pray that either IEM or Systema drop their last two to gain a playoff for the last finals berth.

Games can be viewed live via streaming on www.v-league.ph, according to the organizing Sports Vision.

Rachel Ann Daquis returns to Army’s frontline rotation after missing the team’s last game against Meralco last Sunday but Cagayan is also expected to finally show up with Thai reinforcements in Saengmuang Patcharee and Amporn Hyapha.