INQUIRER Sports

ATENEO CAN?T EXPECT any favor when the Lady Eagles tangle with pacesetter and early semifinalist University of Santo Tomas in the quarterfinal of the Shakey?s V-League Season 6 second conference at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Although the Lady Eagles need the victory more than the Tigresses in their 4 p.m. showdown, UST also wants a win to boost its confidence in the semifinals.

Ateneo is locked in a tie with Adamson for fourth with similar 6-5 slates.

But with the Lady Falcons fancied to breeze past St. Benilde in the first game at 2 p.m., the Lady Eagles are hard-pressed to overcome the Tigresses to keep their bid alive.

?We know the game is very important to them (Ateneo),? said UST coach Cesael Delos Santos, whose squad totes a 10-1 record. ?But it?s also important for us to get a win so we?ll have confidence heading into the semifinals.?

If Ateneo and Adamson win today, they will tie Far Eastern for third at 7-5. The FIVB rules will be applied with the team with the highest tiebreak score clinching the third spot. The other two will play in a knockout game.

The Lady Falcons put themselves in a solid position of clinching a semifinal berth by downing the Lady Eagles, 20-25 25-19, 25-22, 25-21 Tuesday night.

The Tigresses are coming off a 25-21, 16-25, 25-19, 25-22 drubbing of FEU Tuesday night.