Tigresses seek second spot vs Maroons

Games today

12:45 p.m. – UP vs UST

3 p.m. – Arellano vs Ateneo

MANILA, Philippines - UST hopes to ride the crest of its tough five-set win over NCAA champion Arellano U last week as it shoots for solo second against winless University of the Philippines as quarterfinal action heats up in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan today.

Blowing a 0-2 set lead, the Tigresses put their act together in the decider to foil the rallying Lady Chiefs, 25-21, 25-22, 19-25, 24-26, 15-12, and force a three-way logjam at second with the National U Lady Bulldogs and the Far Eastern U Lady Tams at 3-1.

But a victory in its 12:45 p.m. face-off with UP will give UST solo second place behind the unbeaten Ateneo side (4-0) heading to its last two games against two title contenders NU and FEU.

But UST coach Emil Reyes will have none of the NU or FEU worries at this stage as the Tigresses train their sights on the Lady Maroons, hard-pressed to sweep their last three games to salvage at least a playoff for the last semifinal berth in the mid-season conference of the league presented by PLDT Home Ultera.

The power-hitting Ennjie Laure, skipper Pam Lastimosa, Chlodia Cortez, Marivic Meneses and Jessey de Leon along with guest setter Alyssa Teope hope to sustain their form against the Lady Maroons and go to their match with the Lady Bulldogs next week brimming with confidence.

But expect the Diliiman-based squad to pour it all out behind Isabel Molde, Justine Dorog, Diana Carlos, Marian Buitre, Alyssa Layug and playmaker Jewel Lai as the Lady Maroons try to salvage the win and keep their slim hopes alive in the conference sponsored by Shakey’s and backed by Mikasa and Accel.

The match will be aired live at 12:45 p.m. on GMA News TV Channel 11, according to the organizing Sports Vision. Today’s matches, including the 3 p.m. duel between Ateneo and Arellano, can also be viewed live via streaming on www.v-league.ph.

The Lady Eagles also brace for a tough outing against the Lady Chiefs, who are in a must-win situation with a 2-2 card. Arellano is currently in fifth but after Ateneo, it will take on two struggling teams in La Salle-Dasmariñas and St. Benilde and is tipped to get through the Final Four.