Shakey’s V-League: Army favored over Meralco

UNBEATEN Army sets out as the heavy favorite against winless Meralco today as it tries to extend its women’s win run to four in the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Third Conference at Filoil Flying Arena in San Juan.

Although they were dragged to five sets  by the Cagayan Valley Rising Suns last Oct. 7 and forced into a four-setter by the PLDT Home Telpad Turbo Boosters last Thursday, the Lady Troopers are fancied to get past the Power Spikers, who have lost all their first round games in the season-ending conference sponsored by Shakey’s and backed by Mikasa and Accel.

System Tooth and Gum Care also tries to duplicate its victory over Far Eastern U in their 4 p.m. encounter in the men’s division with the Active Smashers also bidding to seize the solo lead.

Tied with idle Instituto Estetico Manila at 2-1, Systema hopes to ride the momentum of its four-set win over Rizal Technological U last Thursday against FEU in what promises to be another tight duel between the league’s top teams.

With Jovelyn Gonzaga, Nerissa Bautista, Mary Jean Balse and Rachel Ann Daquis and ace setter Tina Salak continuing to dish out one big game after the other, the Lady Troopers are shooting for a sixth straight win, counting their sweep of the Rising Suns in the recent Open Conference finals.

Games can be viewed live via streaming on v-league.ph, according to organizing Sports Vision.

Systema rallied to turn back FEU, 14-25, 25-18, 19-25, 25-9, 15-9, in their first round clash.

But FEU, at 1-2, is out to get back at Systema with the former UAAP champions hoping to draw the best from Greg Dolor, Joel Cayaban, Joshua Barrica, Jeric Gacutan and Lucky Margante.