Army, San Sebastian start V-League title duel

MANILA, Philippines–The league’s best power-hitters collide as Philippine Army and San Sebastian start their championship series in the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference championship Sunday.

Although bannered by some of the country’s top volleybelles, the Lady Troopers remain wary of the Lady Stags’ foreign reinforcements in the opener of the best-of-three series at 4 p.m. at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.

“They (Lady Stags) play with a very high intensity, we have to stop that,” Philippine Army coach Rico de Guzman said in Filipino. “We’ll have a good chance if we get to stop their main players (Lauren) Ford and (Jeng) Bualee.”

Ateneo, champion in the last conference, and Philippine Navy dispute third spot in Game 1 of another best-of-three encounter at 2 p.m.

The Lady Troopers have been drawing firepower from former Most Valuable Players Michelle Carolino and Mary Jean Balse along with Rachel Ann Daquis, Marietta Carolino and Joanne Buñag.

Already dominating with American Ford and Thai Bualee, the Lady Stags also have a solid support cast starring Jennifer Manzano, Joy Benito, Dafna Robiños, Jill Gustilo, Rubie de Leon and Jennifer Salgado.

“We’re studying who will go up against Ford and Bualee,” said De Guzman.

Both squads also put premium on defense with the Lady Troopers emerging as the league’s top shot-blocking team with an average of 2.36 block per set, followed by the Lady Stags with a norm of 2.16.

They split their first two meetings with the Lady Stags escaping with a thriller in the eliminations and the Lady Troopers bouncing back in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, the Ateneo-Navy match will be aired at 2 p.m. on Monday while the Army-SSC game will be shown on Tuesday over NBN-4 and GMA-7’s international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA LifeTV and GMA News TV.