Sta. Elena stakes clean record vs Cignal

UNBEATEN Sta. Elena and defending back-to-back champion Cignal face off Tuesday in what could be a preview of the title duel as Navy seeks to cap its remarkable eliminations surge with another victory over back-tothe-wall Santa Rosa.

But focus will be on the Armyvns-one Alicia showdown, a key match for the last semifinals berth in the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the Paco Arena.

The Troopers, sent to the brink with four straight losses, snapped the skid with a five-set escape over the City Lions last Thursday, and coupled with the Griffins’ floundering finish, earned a shot at a playoff for the fourth Final Four seat.

Despite its three straight setbacks, VNS stays in solo fourth but with a 2-3 won-lost card and the Griffins need to hurdle the Troopers in their 2:30 p.m. encounter to avoid going through a playoff where momentum could shift to the Army side.

The City Lions, who also tote a 1-4 card like the Troopers, also have a chance to force a tie for No. 4 in case of an Army victory but the young squad will be hard-pressed to notch its second win against the seasoned Sealions.

After a shaky 1-1 start, PGJCNAVY went on a winning spree, repelling Army, then upending Cignal, before turning back Vns—all in four-set fashions, to tie the HD Spikers at 4-1 behind the Nationals’ pristine 5-0 record.

But the Sealions remain wary of the City Lions in their 11:30 p.m. encounter kicking off the first and only three-game bill in the single round eliminations of the country’s first and only men’s volleyball league organized by Sports Vision.