Shakey's V-League: Ateneo eyes Final 4

MANILA, Philippines - After a seventh and fifth place finishes last season, Ateneo targets no less than a semifinal stint in this year’s Shakey’s V-League. But with a solid roster and a comebacking Thai reinforcement, the Lady Eagles could well hope for a second crack at the crown.

“Since Dzi Gervacio, Fille Cainglet, Gretchen Ho and Jem Ferrer came into the team, we haven’t reached the semis. But this time, we expect to enter the Final Four,” said Ateneo coach Clint Malazo in Filipino.

To achieve their goal, Malazo stressed the need for his players to work hard and play as a team like what they did when they turned in a third place finish in the recent UAAP women’s volley tournament.

“We hope to bring our success in the UAAP to this year’s V-League but the girls must double their effort to contend,” said Malazo.

Ateneo actually finished runner-up to Adamson in the 2008 first conference for its best-ever finish but the Lady Eagles’ form took a dip in the succeeding tournaments, failing to match the strides of the other teams, particularly the UST Tigresses, who went on to sweep last year’s twin titles.

But with former import Keawbundit Sontaya back in the Eagles’ fold and former top hitter Charo Soriano tapped as the other guest player, the Loyola-based spikers are hopeful they can slug it out even with the best in the field this year.

Backing Gervacio, Cainglet, Ho and Ferrer, also named best setter in the UAAP, in the team are veterans Bea Pascual, Kara Acevedo and libero Stephanie Gabriel with support expected to come from Misha Quimpo, Mona Bagatsing and Tash Faustino.

The Lady Eagles wound up a dismal seventh in last year’s first conference then lost to Far Eastern U in a playoff for the fourth semis slot in the second conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and organized by Sports Vision.

Meantime, UST remains the team to beat in the upcoming tournament based on its formidable lineup although a host of others are raring to foil the Tigresses’ bid for a third straight crown in the event backed by Accel, Mikasa and Mighty Bond, including five-time NCAA champion San Sebastian, Adamson and Far Eastern U.

Spicing up the tournament is the participation of three Visayan teams headed by reigning CESAFI champion Southwestern University, former three-time CESAFI winner University of San Jose-Recoletos and University of St. La Salle along with College of Saint Benilde and Lyceum.

The 10 teams will be divided into two groups and play a one-round robin elims with the top four squads from each group advancing to the quarterfinals. The Last 8 will again be grouped into two and play a single round with the top two teams in each group clashing in a pair of crossover semis. Winners will then clash for the crown in another best-of-three affair.

Playdates are set on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 2 p.m. Games will be shown on a delayed basis the following playdate on NBN 4 although matches can be viewed live on webcast at www.v-league.ph.