MANILA, Philippines – A four-way race for the last two semifinal berths is looming in Group A as the Spikers' Turf Season Two-Collegiate Conference elimination round is slowly grinding down to a close with just three more playdates to go.
Reigning NCAA champion Perpetual Help, La Salle, National U and Far Eastern U are currently in a logjam at the helm of Group A with identical 3-1 (win-loss) records and a win or loss could make or break their bids.
Interestingly, Perpetual Help and NU clash on Saturday while La Salle and FEU collide on Wednesday in a pair of crucial games.
Perpetual Help coach Sammy Acaylar it will boil down to which teams want it more.
"It will be all about desire," said Acaylar.
The Las Pinas-based spikers were actually on top after winning their first three games including a 25-20, 25-15, 19-25, 14-25, 15-12 triumph over the Archers.
But Perpetual Help fell to FEU, 23-25, 15-25, 25-20, 21-25, Saturday that saw it conceding the solo leadership.
Acaylar though liked what he's seeing.
"Our goal really is to get experience in the V-League that we hope to use in the NCAA where we are hoping to successfully defend our title and I'm happy we're getting a lot of it here," said Acaylar.
In Group B, only Ateneo had advanced to the best-of-three semis after winning its first four outings.
The last slot is being contested by State U and Santo Tomas, which are tied at No. 2 with a 3-1 card apiece.