Ateneo and Adamson, two contenders raring to prove their worth for the crown, take on separate opponents at the of the Final Four of the Shakey’s V-League Season 8 first conference at The Arena in San Juan City on Thursday.
The Lady Eagles of coach Charo Soriano take on the National University Lady Bulldogs in the main game at 4 p.m. right after the match between the Lady Falcons and the University of St. La Salle-Bacolod at 2 p.m.
Ateneo will pin its hopes on Thai import Kesinee Lithawat, fellow guest player Alyssa Valdez and mainstays Fille Cainglet, Gretchen Ho,Angeline Gervacio, Jamenea Ferrer and Michelle Lazaro against an NU squad spearheaded by guest players Denise Santiago and Cherry Vivas.
Other players to watch for the Lady Bulldogs, who will see action in their first semifinals appearance since joining the league last season, are Maricar Nepomuceno, Monique Tiangco, Rialen Sante, Carmina Aganon, Precious Salibad, Rizza Mandapat and libero Jennylyn Reyes.
The Lady Eagles are hoping to bounce back from a three straight sets loss at the hands of the Lady Falcons last Sunday.
The Lady Stingers, who topped their group in the eliminations and the quarterfinals, tapped the services of Jovelyn Gonzaga and University of Santo Tomas ace Aiza Maizo as their new reinforcements.
Gonzaga will replace their American guest player Jayde Hair, who flew back to the United States to attend her high school graduation in Idaho, while Maizo will take over the slot of libero Rebbie Delontindo, who had to do scouting for the USLS junior team in the Palarong Pambansa.
“Kung nung first meeting namin hindi naglaro ng todo ang mga bata kasi hindi na iba sa kanila ang team, ngayon talagang todo na lahat kasi finals na ang pinag-uusapan," said Adamson coach Dulce Pante.
“At saka okey lang kahit may bago silang guest players, kasi hindi na rin naman iba sa akin ang mga batang yan (Gonzaga and Maizo). Yun nga lang, siguradong mahihirapan silang mag-adjust lalo na si Maizo kasi iba ang laro nyan at yung style ng laro nya sa UST," added Pante.
Adamson eyes a repeat of their straight-set win against USLS in the eliminations with guest players Nene Bautista and Michelle Laborte leading the attack. Also expected to provide amplu support are Angela Benting, Paulina Soriano, Angelica Quinlog and May Macatuno.
USLS coach Roger Banzuela didn't promise anything but to show their best effort in the best-of-three series.
“We’ll try our best in the Final Four, andito na rin lang kami, gagawin na namin lahat para naman hindi masayang ang pagkakataon," said Banzuela, who will bank on his mainstays led by the league’s leading scorer Patty Orendain and team skipper Kay Aplasca, setter April Hingpit, Charmaine Moralde, Gianes Dolar and Royce Quijano.
No comments:
Post a Comment