Lady Troopers face Power Spikers

MULTITITLED Army is in for its toughest challenge yet in the Shakey’s V-League.

Facing a field sprinkled with strong foreign reinforcements, the Lady Troopers will have their hands full as they gun for back-to-back titles in the Reinforced Conference starting today at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Troopers open their campaign against the formidable Meralco Power Spikers in the lone women’s division match at 6 p.m.

A separate men’s tournament also gets going with Instituto Estetico Manila facing Systema at 4 p.m.

But the spotlight will remain on the Lady Troopers who tapped ex UAAP standout Dindin Santiago and Carmina Aganon to fuel their bid in the import-laden tournament.

The Power Spikers are looking for a turnaround after a mediocre fifth place finish in their league debut in the Open Conference last year. Abigail Maraño, Stephanie Mercado and Maureen Penetrante-Ouano will join forces with Thai Wanida Kotruang and Japanese ace setter Misao Tanyama for Meralco which also has Zharmaine Velez.

Santiago will join an already formidable squad headed by league MVPs Jovelyn Gonzaga, Rachel Ann Daquis, Nerissa Bautista and Mary Jean Balse and top setter Tina Salak.

The two other teams in the women’s section—Cagayan Valley and PLDT Home Telpad—will debut on Tuesday and Thursday against Army and Meralco, respectively.

Also seeing action in the men’s event are Far Eastern U and Rizal Technological University.

Teams will play in a double round robin format with the top two teams advancing to the best-of-three finals.  Cedelf P. Tupas