Shakey’s V-League Coast Guard, Navy seek first win

Game today (Saturday)

12:45 p.m. – Coast Guard vs Navy

Games tomorrow (Sunday)

12:45 p.m. – Army vs UP

3 p.m. – PLDT Home Ultera vs Kia Forte

MANILA, Philippines –  Navy and Coast Guard hope to get back into the groove following opening game setbacks as they clash in the lone Shakey’s V-League Season 12-Reinforced Conference game today at The San Juan Arena.

The match, set at 12:45 p.m., kicks off another weekend of volley festival in the league where fans will be treated to three live matches over GMA News TV Channel 11, according to the organizing Sports Vision.

Powerhouse Army and University of the Philippines collide tomorrow starting at 12:45 p.m. for the solo lead while PLDT Home Ultera tries to gain a share of it when it faces newcomer Kia Forte at 3 p.m.

The Lady Troopers swept the Kia Forte, 25-15, 25-18, 25-11, while the Ultra Fast Hitters bucked the loss of ace Alyssa Valdez and Gretchel Soltones to defeat the Lady Dolphins, 25-10, 25-11, 25-20, as the fancied teams served notice of their title bids in the season-ending conference of the league presented by PLDT Home Ultera and sponsored by Shakey’s.

But focus will be on the Coast Guard-Navy faceoff where the former is going all out to rebound from a stinging 10-25, 11-25, 20-25 loss to the fancied Ultra Fast Hitters last Sunday.

The Lady Sailors, on the other hand, try to atone for their meltdown against the UP Lady Maroons last Saturday that saw them blow a one-set lead and a big cushion in the second frame and drop a 25-19, 23-25, 23-25, 23-25 decision.

Navy coach Zenaida Chavez knows how crucial each game is in the tournament, backed by Mikasa and Accel, and the Lady Sailors are expected to come into the match in attack mode.

Hezzymie Acuna, Pau Soriano, Lilet Mabbayad did dish out solid games against UP but Chavez hopes to draw more firepower from her aces and from veteran Norie Diaz, May Genido, Yvette Martinez and skipper/setter Janet Serafica.

The Lady Dolphins, meanwhile, seek to rebound from a poor performance against PLDT where they produced just 18 attacks against the Fast Hitters’ 41.

Skipper Rossan Fajardo will again spearhead Coast Guard’s bid but hopes to get solid support from veterans Sandra delos Santos and Mary Rosale and from Nelet Clarete, Hyrize Macabuhay and Samantha Dawson.