Eagles eye Spikers’ Turf title sweep versus Bulldogs

Game tomorrow

3 p.m. – EAC vs NCBA (for third)

Game Sunday

3 p.m. – Ateneo vs NU (for crown)

MANILA, Philippines - Marck Espejo hopes to rebound from a mediocre showing the first time out and live up to his MVP billing as Ateneo guns for a sweep of the inaugural Spikers’ Turf Collegiate Conference crown against an embattled National U side on Sunday at The Arena in San Juan City.

Espejo struggled for nine points in the best-of-three series’ opener last week after running away with the MVP plum but Rex Intal stepped up and Ysrael Marasigan and Karl Baysa came through with solid games to help carry the Eagles to a 25-17, 25-18, 25-19, and a win away from completing a sweep of the entire tournament presented by PLDT Home Ultera.

Intal fired 15 hits, including an impressive seven-block performance that helped stymie the Bulldogs’ attacks while skipper Marasigan matched Espejo’s output, highlighted by three aces against NU’s poor service reception.

But the Bulldogs are expected to have made the necessary adjustments following a long break although the Eagles are hell-bent in finishing off their rivals and avoid the specter of going through a decider where odds could swing to the other side.

The 3 p.m. game can be viewed live via streaming on www.v-league.ph, according to the organizing Sports Vision. A decider, if necessary, will be played on Oct. 4.

Aside from Espejo, setter Joner Polvorosa is also expected to be in top form Sunday after playing sluggishly in the opener after coming out of the hospital due to viral infection. Still, the ace Ateneo playmaker produced 24 excellent sets, feeding Intal, Espejo and the other Ateneo hitters from both flanks and back row.

NU actually outhit Ateneo, 36-31, as Bryan Bagunas scored 11 hits and Fauzi Ismail and Francis Saura each punched in nine markers. But the Eagles made up for this with solid blocking, 10 against 3, while pouncing on the Bulldogs’ sloppy reception with eight aces.

But a tighter Game Two is seen come Sunday with the Bulldogs raring to strike back and force a sudden death that could go either way.

Meanwhile, Emilio Aguinaldo College tries to wrap up third place honors against National College of Business and Arts when they clash in Game Two tomorrow at 3 p.m., also at The Arena. The Generals beat the Wildcats, 25-18, 25-12, 25-14, in the opener of their own series for third last week.