Lady Tams add Gonzaga, Tubino for title defense

Far Eastern University may have lost key stars from its championship squad, but the Lady Tams will have two reinforcements that make them among the top teams in the Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference.

The tournament reels off Saturday at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City with the Lady Tams, league pioneers who won their first V-League title by sweeping fancied National U, out to defend their crown minus top setter Yna Papa and top receiver/digger Christine Agno.

FEU won’t be without help as it tries to fend off the challenge from 11 other teams, a record cast in the country’s premier women’s volley league sponsored by Shakey’s and presented by PLDT Home Ultera.

National team mainstay Jovelyn Gonzaga and veteran Honey Royse Tubino of Army were signed as guest players for the Lady Tams in their back-to-back bid in the tournament backed by Mikasa and Accel.

Coach Shaq delos Santos still considers his team as underdogs although he still boasts top hitter Bernadeth Pons, skipper Joy Palma and several holdovers.

Also competing for the title are UAAP champion Ateneo, NCAA titlist Arellano U, six-time champion University of Santo Tomas, National U, San Sebastian-Recoletos, University of the Philippines, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, St. Benilde, La Salle-Dasmariñas, University of Batangas and Technological Institute of the Philippines.

FEU hopes to come up with a strong start against University of Batangas when the league kicks off its mid-season conference on Saturday with an explosive triple-bill that includes the Ateneo-UST clash and the San Sebastian-St. Benilde faceoff.

Games will be played on Saturdays and Sundays with each team allowed to tap two guest players.

Under the format, the top four teams from each group after a single qualifying round will move into the single-round quarterfinals.

The top four will advance to the semifinals with the No. 1 clashing with No. 4 and the Nos. 2 and 3 teams facing off in the other best-of-three series. Winners will dispute the championship in another best-of-three series.