Lady Stags tipped to go 1 shy of title

SAN SEBASTIAN tries to close in on the crown as it battles College of St. Benilde in the women’s finals of the 91st NCAA volleyball tournament today, even as Emilio Aguinaldo and Perpetual Help start their series for the men’s championship at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Unbeaten in nine matches, the Lady Stags aim for the first of two wins needed to secure title No. 25 against a St. Benilde squad looking to pull off the improbable in the 4 p.m. match.

San Sebastian owns a thrice-to-beat advantage or a virtual 1-0 lead in a best-of-five series for sweeping the eliminations.

The Lady Blazers entered the semifinals as the No. 4 seed, but victories against Perpetual Help and Arellano propelled them to a finals berth.

“Our main focus is to take Game 1,” said San Sebastian coach Roger Gorayeb, who has guided the Lady Stags to 22 titles, including the one in 2009 when they beat the Lady Blazers for the crown.

The Generals, led by the power-hitting Howard Mojica, aim to move closer to a second straight title as they meet the Altas at 2 p.m. The Altas are gunning for their 11th crown under Sammy Acaylar.

Over at Rizal Memorial Stadium, San Beda and Arellano dispute the men’s football crown at 11 a.m.

The Red Booters who are gunning for a sixth straight crown forged a winner-take-all clash after subduing the Chiefs, 2-1, in extra time last Saturday.

San Beda’s juniors team faces St. Benilde-La Salle Green Hills in another title clash at 9 a.m.