MANILA, Philippines—Expect San Sebastian College to pull out more tricks from its bag when the Lady Stags go for a championship berth against Ateneo de Manila University on Friday in the semifinals of the Shakey’s V-League Season 5 at The Arena in San Juan City.

San Sebastian coach Roger Gorayeb believes Ateneo will come prepared for their 4 p.m. showdown.

But the multi-titled coach said the Lady Stags, known for their power-hitting and fast-paced game, will add more variation to their attacks, especially those involving Thai import Jaroensri Bualee.

“Ateneo is preparing for Bualee,” Gorayeb told the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net). “But we will try to confuse them with our rotation.”

The Lady Stags, who finished with a 9-1 record in the eliminations, opened their semifinal campaign with a 25-16, 25-19, 25-16, walloping of the Lyceum Lady Pirates Tuesday.

The San Sebastian-Ateneo match will also feature the clash of Thai imports in Bualee and Phanusit Em-orn, who came up big for Ateneo in their semifinal push.

Adamson University seeks the first finals berth against Lyceum of the Philippines at 2 p.m.

San Sebastian and Adamson are hoping to forge a best-of-three finals series between the two elimination-round topnotchers. But a couple of upsets will send the race for the final slots down to the last semifinal playdate.

Gorayeb, whose team owns two victories against the Lady Eagles in the eliminations, wants the Lady Stags to exploit their manpower advantage over the Lady Eagles.

“We’ll try to capitalize on their weaker rotation,” said Gorayeb, who shrugged off minor injury concerns on central spiker Melissa Mirasol and libero Mary Jane Pepito. Cedelf P. Tupas