ATENEO and Technological Institute of the Philippines dispute the last quarterfinals berth even as National University and University Santo Tomas kick off their semifinal drive as action in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Collegiate Conference heats up at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
With Michelle Morente on the firing end, the Lady Eagles pulled the rug from under the defending champion Lady Bulldogs, 25-15, 27-25, 25-17, late Saturday to force a playoff with the Lady Engineers after the two teams finished the single round Group A elims at 2-2.
Gametime is at 6 p.m.
“We gave it all our best because it was a do-or-die game,” said Morente, who took ever as team captain following the graduation of two-time league MVP Alyssa Valdez.
“We hope to play the same way, perhaps better, in our playoff against TIP and get to the quarterfinals,” she added.
Playing minus Jhoanna Maraguinot and Bea de Leon, Ateneo fell to TIP, 24-26, 25-14, 21-25, 25-18, 12-15, in their elims faceoff last Aug. 3.
The Lady Eagles will still miss Maraguinot, sidelined by a foot injury, but will have de Leon back in the fold and a re-energized Morente.
Still, the Lady Enginners will be out to prove their worth with guest players Mylene Paat and Relea Saet expected to step up their respective games and steer the team to the next round of the mid-season conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s and backed by Mikasa as official ball and Accel as official outfitter.
Meanwhile, NU and UST, which finished with 3-1 and 2-2, respectively, after the group elims, collide at 4 p.m. with both teams raring to regain their winning ways after dropping their last matches.
Both games will be aired live on ABS-CBN Sports + Action Channel 23 and via streaming on www.sports.abs-cbn.com, according to the organizing Sports Vision.
Games today (Philsports Arena, Pasig)
10 a.m. – San Beda vs UP (S Turf)
12 noon – FEU vs Perpetual Help (S Turf)
4 p.m. – NU vs UST (V League quarters)
6 p.m. – Ateneo vs TIP (V League playoff)