Lady Maroons seek share of Shakey’s V-League lead, semis slot

UP Lady Maroons. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

DESPITE claiming to be far from its ideal form, University of the Philippines gets a shot at the Final Four berth and a share of the top spot in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Collegiate Conference Monday.

“We’re not consistent,” said UP coach Jerry Yee as the Lady Maroons go for an upset of defending champion National University.

“There have been improvements, but right now, we’re far from [our target form].”

The crucial match tips off at 4 p.m. at Philsports Arena in Pasig City, where a UP win will give the Lady Maroons a ticket to the next round and a piece of the lead at

3-1.

But a victory by the Lady Bulldogs, sure semifinalists who share No. 1 with idle Far Eastern University, will bolster their bid for the solo top spot.

The Final Four features a best-of-three showdown with the No. 1 team battling the fourth-ranked squad and the second seed taking on the No. 3 team.

As UP tries to beat the odds, Ateneo also faces a tough task to stay in semifinal contention.

The Lady Eagles must win their last two quarterfinal assignments, starting with the also-ran University of Santo Tomas in the second match at 6 p.m.

“We have to trust each other,” said Ateneo skipper Michelle Morente. “We have to communicate better inside the court.”

The Ateneo men’s team, though, hopes to continue lording it over in the Spikers’ Turf Season 2 Collegiate Conference.

The Blue Eagles, who already secured a semifinal berth with a 4-0 card, target a sweep of Group B versus UP at 12 noon.

Eliminated squads Philippine Merchant Marine School and St. Benilde tangle in the first game at 10 a.m.

NU is also in the Final Four after repulsing Perpetual Help, 25-21, 25-22, 25-22, in a Group A match Saturday.