Tigresses, Stags open title clash

MANILA, Philippines – University of Santo Tomas and San Sebastian College begin their title showdown in the sixth Shakey’s V-League presented by Cherifer today with the Tigresses looking for a fourth championship and the Lady Stags eyeing back-to-back title romps at The Arena in San Juan.

The Recoletos-based squad swept UST in last year’s second conference finals but the Tigresses beat the Stags twice this conference and are heading into their 4 p.m. encounter oozing with confidence and enthusiasm as they try to add another title to their trophy collection.

It will be a clash of power – with the league’s top five scorers coming from both teams – but emphasis will also be on defense and reception as they try to limit each other’s production in a bid to gain the headstart in their best-of-three series.

Led by Thai import Jaroensri Bualee, the leading scorer with 267 points, including 234 spikes, the Lady Stags are out to end the Tigresses domination in this conference and re-establish themselves as the country’s top team in women’s volleyball.

Laurence Ann Latigay, the top spiker with a 39.9 percent clip, is also expected to provide Bualee the needed support along with Suzanne Roces, Rysabelle Devanadera, Analyn Benito and setter Charisse Ancheta.

UST coach Cesael delos Santos, on the other hand, boasts of a dependable crew ready to dominate the opposition with Mary Jean Balse, Michelle Carolino and skipper and the league’s top blocker Aiza Maizo forming the core of the three-time champion squad. Add Maika Ortiz, Bernice Co, Judy Ann Caballejo and Rhea Dimaculangan, the No. 1 server and top setter with 34 aces and 956 running sets, in the mix, the Tigresses are indeed a tough team to beat.

But delos Santos said they have to polish their reception if they are to score a repeat over San Sebastian in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and Cherifer and organized by Sports Vision.

“We have to improve on our reception, which is our main problem the whole conference,” said delos Santos.

While SSC is the league’s leading spiking team with 39.15 percent norm, connecting with 740 from 1890 tries, UST tops the league in blocking, thus making it a clash between offense and defense in the two teams’ fourth meeting for the crown.

The Tigresses, on their seventh finals appearance in the league backed by Accel, Mikasa, Mighty Bond and OraCare, won their first two title faceoffs before the Lady Stags, on their fifth championship stint, came through with a sweep of last conference’s diadem.

“Although we lost twice to UST this conference, we hope to get back at them in this final series,” said SSC coach Roger Gorayeb.

Adamson and FEU collide in their own side of the best of three series for third starting at 2 p.m.