MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo and National U seek to finish off National College of Business and Arts and Emilio Aguinaldo College, respectively, today and seal a keenly awaited showdown for the first Spikers’ Turf Collegiate Conference crown at The Arena in San Juan City.
The Eagles overpowered the Wildcats in three at the start of the best-of-three semis last Monday and looked headed for a sweep with their power game anchored on Marck Espejo, Rex Intal, Joshua Valenzuela and Ysrael Marasigan.
The four, with Esmilzo Polvorosa providing the set plays, combined for 48 hits in powering the Eagles to the lopsided victory in the series’ opener, making them the heavy favorites in their 3 p.m. duel with the NCBA side.
But the Wildcats are expected to bounce back strong and provide the kind of challenge expected of them. Guest players Reyson Fuentes and Edwin Tolentino, who combined for just 12 hits the last time out, are raring to atone for their lackluster showing along with Ralph Oclima, Jumbo Nidua, Paul Domingo, Daryl Valenzuela and skipper Jason Canlas.
NU, meanwhile, braces for another tough outing against EAC in their own side of the semis duel at 1 p.m. with the former barely escaping with a 25-23, 26-28, 25-18, 26-28, 15-11 win, also last Monday.
The Bulldogs leaned on their superb blocking to outlast the Generals in a fiercely fought duel with Francis Saura coming through with four and Madzlan Gampong adding two in the team’s 11-block output.
The Bulldogs also negated Howard Mojica’s 35-hit game but the league’s leading scorer is also expected to better his performance and the rest of the Generals eager to redeem themselves and provide their leader the needed support to sustain their charge in what looms to be another long-drawn battle.
Fauzi Ismail sizzled with 23 kills for NU, which also drew double-digit outputs from four other players that underscored the team’s balanced attacking sock.
Gampong ended up with 15 points, Saura made 13 markers and Bryan Bagunas and Kim Malabunga each produced 12 hits for the Bulldogs.
In contrast, only Hariel Doguna posted the other twin-digit score for EAC with 17 but skipper Israel Encina and Kerth Melliza, held to eight and six points, respectively, are raring to join the scoring act for the Generals.
Meanwhile, the NU-EAC clash last Monday will be aired starting at 4 p.m. today (Wednesday), according to the organizing Sports Vision.