Tigresses seek V-L semis playoff versus Maroons
Games today
12:30 p.m. – Air Force vs Cignal (S Turf) 4 p.m. – Pocari vs Coast Guard 6 p.m. – UP vs UST
University of Santo Tomas hopes to ride the momentum of its unbeaten run marked by two reversals as it shoots for a fourth straight win and at least a playoff for a semifinal berth against University of the Philippines in the Shakey’s V- League Season 13 Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig today.
The Tigresses swept their first three games, including a four- set win over Open Conference runnerup Air Force and another four-setter over an import-backed BaliPure side late Saturday, putting the team with a gritty all-Filipino crew closer to a semifinal stint in the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.
EJ Laure continued to dish out top form and unleashed a superb 23-hit game as the Tigresses bucked the 25-point effort of American Kathy Morrell to subdue the BaliPure Water Defenders, 21-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-13, and regain the solo lead.
The top UST hitter is playing despite pain in her right shoulder.
“It’s a little sore but I want to play and help my team,” said Laure, a former best scorer in the league.
Carla Sandoval backed her up with 12 hits while Pam Lastimosa, slowly getting back into the groove after a long layoff due to injury, fired 11 points and top blocker Marivic Meneses added 10 hits, including four blocks.
Another UST ace, Cherry Rondina, is also expected to finally see action after powering the school to the UAAP beach volley c rown yesterday.
The victory firmed up UST’s bid in the short tournament backed by Mikasa as official ball and Accel as official outfitter with the Tigresses expecting a tougher challenge from the Lady Maroons, who bounced back from a straight-set setback to the Customs Transformers with a sweep of winless Coast Guard. Gametime is at 6 p.m.
UP coach Jerry Yee will again bank on his talented crew of Diana Carlos, Nicole Tiamzon, Kathy Bersola, Justine Dorog and Marian Buitre with Rose Mary Cailing hoping to settle down and provide the plays for the team’s top spikers.
Pocari Sweat, meanwhile, tries to recover from its tough five-set loss to Air Force last Wednesday as it faces Coast Guard at 4 p.m. Both matches will be aired live over ABS-CBN Sports + Action Channel 17 or 23 and via streaming on www.sports.abs-cbn.com and on www.v-league,ph, according to the organizing Sports Vision.
“We’re eager to bounce back from that loss,” said Pocari team manager Eric Ty.
Over at the Spikers’ Turf Season 2 Reinforced Conference, Cignal and Air Force face off at 12; 30 p. m. in what promises to be a slam-bang duel between two of the fancied teams.
The HD Spikers toppled the Instituto Estetico Manila in three while the Air Spikers dominated 100 Plus, also in three in their first matches.