Philippine Army. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
After falling short in recent conferences, star-studded Army looks to live up to its full potential when the Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference unfolds this Saturday.
The Lady Troopers stand as favorite in the six-team field with a stellar cast bannered by Rachel Ann Daquis, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Aby Maraño, MJ Balse, Nerissa Bautista and setter Tina Salak.
PLDT Home Ultera poses as the biggest threat to the Lady Troopers, while Navy, Coast Guard and UP Diliman also target a more competitive run.
League organizer Sports Vision said the sixth team will be a mix of standouts from Cagayan Valley and Meralco.
“While Army boasts of a formidable roster, the other five squads also pack solid lineups, guaranteeing a spirited chase for the championship,” said Sports Vision president Ricky Palou.
The Lady Troopers surprisingly got swept by Cagayan Valley in last year’s championship and also bowed to PLDT Home Ultera in a do-or-die title match in this year’s Open Conference finals.
Coach Emil Reyes will call the shots for the Lady Troopers, which also listed Patricia Siatan-Torres, Joanne Bunag and Genie Sabas.
The top four teams at the end of the single-round eliminations will advance to semifinals, with the top two earning a twice-to-beat advantage. The finalists will fight for the crown in a best-of-three series. Jasmine W. Payo