Army, UP seek semis playoffs

Games Today 12:45 p.m. – PLDT vs UP 3 p.m. – Coast Guard vs Kia Forte 5 p.m. – Navy vs Army

Army and University of the Philippines (UP) take on separate rivals today, both eyeing a third straight victory and a playoff for the last semifinal berth in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12-Reinforced Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Lady Troopers, who swept the Kia Forte and survived the PLDT Home Ultra Fast Hitters in five to share the lead with the Lady Maroons, clash with the resurgent Navy Lady Sailors in the main 5 p.m. match of the first triple-bill in the seasonending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.

UP, enjoying top form with backto-back wins over Navy and Coast Guard, battles PLDT Home Ultera in the 12:45 p.m. opener to be shown live on GMA News TV Channel 11.

Kia Forte and Coast Guard clash in the 3 p.m. duel of winless teams with the winner staying in the semifinal hunt and the loser bowing out early in the tournament presented by PLDT Home Ultera and backed by Mikasa and Accel.

Former Adamson stalwart Shiela Pineda, Alexa Micek, National U mainstay Carmina Aganon, veteran campaigner Wenneth Eulalio, Alyssa Layug and setter Relea Sael hope to bounce back from a pair of shutout losses as they try to extend the newcomer Kia Forte’s season against the Lady Dolphins, down in the cellar with three 0-3 losses.

The Lady Troopers, meanwhile, are expected to ride on their thrilling five-set escape over the PLDT Ultra Fast Hitters as they gun for win No. 3 against the Lady Sailors, who rebounded from their meltdown loss to the Lady Maroons with emphatic victories over the Dolphins and Kia Forte.