FEU, NU collide for solo V-League lead

(The Arena, San Juan)

10 a.m. – La Salle vs PMMS (ST)

12 p.m. – NCBA vs EAC (ST)

4 p.m. – San Sebastian vs UST (SVL)

6 p.m. – NU vs FEU (SVL)

MANILA, Philippines – Far Eastern U and National U gun for the solo lead as the two clash Wednesday in the quarterfinal round of the Shakey's V-League Season 13-Collegiate Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

The Lady Tams topped Group B to emerge as the lone unbeaten team after the elimination round and carried over two victories.

The Lady Bulldogs, meanwhile, dumped the Santo Tomas Tigresses, 25-21, 29-27, 25-13, in Monday's start of the quarters to improve to 2-1 (win-loss) mark.

The winner of the NU-FEU showdown seizes the solo lead while pushing it closer to clinching a spot in the best-of-three semifinals of the tournament.

FEU has been drawing strength from the power-spiking Toni Rose Basas, who is averaging a team-best 18 hits, and the seasoned duo of Bernadeth Pons and team captain Mary Joy Remy Palma.

Although they swept the group stages, FEU coach Shaq delos Santos said there are still a lot to improve.

"We're not yet the team we want to be and we still have to improve on so many things," said Delos Santos in Filipino.

FEU though will face its toughest adversary to date in NU, which will be led by Jaja Santiago and vastly improved setter Jasmine Nabor.

Jorelle Singh is also slowly returning to form after missing some games due to an enlarged heart, scattering 15 hits including 14 off attacks in the Lady Bulldogs' recent win.

"We hope to sustain our form," said NU assistant coach Edjet Mabbayad, who is manning the fort in the absence of head coach Roger Gorayeb.

For their part, San Sebastian (1-1) and UST (0-3) collide in the other game at 4 p.m. with hopes of boosting their semifinal bid.

In the Spikers' Turf Season Two-Collegiate Conference, La Salle seeks to stay in semis contention as it squares off with an already-ran Phl Merchant Marine School at 10 a.m.

Led by the prolific Raymark Woo, the Archers pulled the rug from under National U, 26-24, 25-19, 18-25, 25-22, on Aug. 15, to improve to 2-1 and another win over the Mariners, winless in three starts, will catapult them in a four-way logjam on top of Group A with NU, FEU and Perpetual Help.

National College of Business and Arts (0-3) and Emilio Aguinaldo (0-3) face off at 12 p.m. in a non-bearing duel.