Lady Oragons target 2nd win over High Flyers

MANILA, Philippines — Iriga-Navy tries to stay as the lone unbeaten squad in the early going of the Premier Volleyball League as it shoots for a second straight win against PayMaya while Tacloban and BaliPure-National University clash in the other match of the Reinforced Conference’s second straight weekend’s out-of-town sortie in Batangas City today.

The Lady Oragons turned back the young Water Defenders, 25-23, 25-23, 22-25, 25-19, last week with former NCAA Division 1 player Macy Ubben expected to provide the firepower anew for Iriga-Navy in their 2 p.m. encounter with the High Flyers at the Batangas City Sports Coliseum after hammering in 27 points the first time out.

But American Shelby Sullivan and local star Grethcel Soltones have vowed to make up for their struggle the last time out for PayMaya and help American Tess Rountree in their bid for a third win in four starts in the season-opening conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.

Both matches will be aired live on ABS-CBN Sports+Action Channel 23, ABS-CBN S+A HD Channel 166, LIGA on SkyCable Channel 86, LIGA HD on SkyCable Channel 183 and via livestream on www.abs-cbn.com/livestream.

The High Flyers won their first two games but yielded an 18-25, 23-25, 19-25 loss to Creamline in Tuguegarao in the first provincial offering of the league backed by Mikasa and Asics last Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Fighting Warays brace for a tough battle against Nazareth School of National University-powered Water Defenders at 4 p.m.

Tacloban dropped its opening match against PayMaya but strung up back-to-back victories against Petro Gazz and BanKo Perlas behind Thai Hyapha Amporn and Jovielyn Prado to force a three-way tie for first with the Creamline Cool Smashers and the High Flyers.

“We should not underestimate BaliPure. We must respect them and give them a good fight,” said Tacloban coach Nes Pamilar.

BaliPure-NU, for its part, hopes that its high school stars will continue to learn from seasoned reinforcements Janisa Johnson and Alexis Mathews as it seeks back-to-back wins to improve its 1-1 slate.