Shakey’s V-L: Army, PLDT final up

DEFENDING champion Army and crowd darling PLDT Home Ultera duke it out one last time for the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Open Conference title today at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

With the two teams splitting the first two games of the best-of-three series, the 12:45 p.m. showdown is expected to go down the wire.

“I told my players to give it their best shot since all our hard work would only be put to waste if we fail to win this championship,” said PLDT coach Roger Gorayeb who will also handle the team bound for the SEA Games.

The showdown is sandwiched by the two playoff matches for the title and third place in the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference.

Clashing at 3 p.m. are PLDT Home Ultera  and Cagayan Valley in Game 1 of their best-of-three series for the championship.  Earlier at 9 a.m. Air Force and Cignal clash  in Game 1 of their own duel for third.

The Ultra Fast Spikers beat the  Suns, 16-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-23, at the end of the semifinal round last Thursday.

Made up of collegiate stars, the Ultra Fast Spikers feel they have enough gas in the tank to finally unseat Army and signal a changing of the guard.

The likes of Alyssa Valdez, Jaja Santiago and Gretchel Soltones will be up against veterans  Nerissa Bautista, Rachel Anne Daquis and MJ Balse in what promises to be an explosive duel.

PLDT actually seemed poised for an unbeaten title campaign until it got stunned by a 13-25, 25-23, 27-25, 25-22 defeat from Army in the opener of their best-of-three series on May 21. Cedelf P. Tupas