Top teams collide in PVL collegiate tilt

Win streaks will be snapped as unbeaten University of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern U, Adamson and University of the Philippines tangle in a pair of explosive matches in the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Collegiate Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan today.

The Tigresses and the Lady Tams brace for a tough outing in their drive for a fourth straight victory with the former squaring off with the Lady Maroons at 2 p.m. and the latter testing the Lady Falcons’ mettle in the 4 p.m. main game.

UST, starring the pair of Ejiya Laure and Milena Alessandrini, has turned in the most impressive start, scoring shutout victories over San Sebastian, Perpetual Help and San Beda U. But the Tigresses expect a fierce challenge from the Lady Maroons, who opened their campaign with a straight-set romp over Perpetual last weekend.

Isa Molde, Marian Buitre, Roselyn Rosier, Aieshalaine Gannaban and skipper Ma. Arielle Estranero are raring to slug it out with Laure, Alessandrini, Kecelyn Galdones, Christine Francisco, Carla Sandoval, Camille Victoria and Alina Bicar in a duel tipped to go down-to-the-wire.

Focus will also be on the FEU-Adamson face-off with the Lady Tams seeking a follow-up to their five-set escape over the St. Benilde Lady Blazers, a four-set win over the San Beda Lady Red Spikers and a straight-set triumph over the SSC Lady Stags behind veterans Celine Domingo, Jerrili Malabanan and Heather Guino-o and rising star Lycha Ebon along with Jeanette Villareal, Czarina Carandang and ace playmaker Kyle Negrito.

But the Lady Falcons are also out to prove their worth after disposing of the Lady Altas and the Lady Blazers in victories that hardly impressed coach Air Padda, who expects her wards to raise the level of their game especially against the Lady Tams.

The top four teams after the single round elims will advance to the crossover semis with the winners disputing the crown in a best-of-three affair.