Iriga-Navy tests young BaliPure mettle

BALIPURE hopes to spring a surprise with its young, energetic crew as it

campaign against Iriga-Navy even as Petro Gazz and Tacloban clash in a duel of opening day losers in the after its mainstays, including coach Roger Gorayeb, moved to PayMaya during the off- season, the Purest Water Defenders remain upbeat of their chances on a team built around the core of young guns and rising stars of four-peat UAAP girls volley champion National U. will banner the team that ruled the libero Jennifer Nierva, towering

Princess Robles, who played for the Babes Castillo-mentored Lady Bulldogs that dominated the inaugural A slew of NU seniors team members in Rica Diolan, libero Gayle

Doromal and Audrey Paran will provide the experience and poise for the

They will be as much tested in their 4 p. m. encounter with the Iriga- Navy Oragons, who will be bannered by imports Macy Ubben and Lauren Whyte with coach Egay Rusit also pinning his hopes on his local veterans Grazielle Bombita, Hezzymie Acuña and Diane Ticar among others.

The winner will join fancied Creamline and PayMaya in the lead in the early going of the seasonopening conference organized by

and Asics.

Petro Gazz and Tacloban, on the other hand, collide at 6: 30 p. m. with both teams out to bounce back from their losses to Creamline and PayMaya, respectively.

Both games will be aired live on 23 and via streaming on www.sports. abs-cbn.com/livestream.

Also on tap is the men’s division

10 a.m. and Instituto Estetico Manila facing off opening day winner Army at 12 noon. Both matches can be viewed live via livestream.

Meanwhile, defending champion

opens

its

title retention drive on

- age. The Lady Warriors will take on

go for win No. 2 against a debuting BanKo-Perlas side at 4 p.m.