SANTO Tomas’ Maika Ortiz (7) and Rhea Dimaculangan soar to thwart Ateneo’s Alyssa Valdez during Sunday’s Finals opener. RODEL ROTONI
University of Santo Tomas looks to cap its return to the Shakey’s V-League with a title when it clashes with Ateneo today in Game 2 of their Season 9 First Conference championship series at the Filoil Flying V Arena.
The Tigresses, who prevailed in four sets in the series-opener, can clinch their seventh title with a victory in the 4 p.m. showdown with the Lady Eagles, whose aura of invincibility was finally broken last Sunday.
Up until the first set of Game 1, the hitherto unbeaten Ateneo looked every bit a team ready to claim a second straight title in the best-of-three duel.
Instead, it was UST that moved on the brink after a steady performance from its veterans in the second to fourth sets while the Lady Eagles faded.
UST coach Odjie Mamon believes finishing off Ateneo will be his team’s biggest challenge yet.
“We’re just hopeful we can finish the series in Game 2, but Ateneo is a very strong team,” said Mamon. “We have to play better than in Game 1 to stand a chance of winning.”
The Lady Eagles lost Game 1, 25-16, 20-25, 23-25, 22-25, in four sets, despite scoring more attack points and registering more blocks than the Tigresses, whose execution in crucial stages of sets has proven crucial to their success.
“We have so many things to work on like our blocking,” said Mamon. “We need consistency in all aspects of our game. We just can’t rely so much on our attacks.”
Ateneo will lean on import Phee Nok Kesinee, who had a team-high seven blocks in the finals opener.
Ateneo coach Roger Gorayeb is also looking for improved performances from setter Jem Ferrer and attackers Alyssa Valdez, Angeline Gervacio, Suzanne Roces and Fille Cainglet.
The Tigresses hope to draw solid performances from Judy Caballejo, Maika Ortiz, Maru Banaticla and Mary Jean Balse, who is shrugging off pain on her knees to provide more options to the UST attack.
“I don’t really want to play her because of the injury, but she wants to help the team. She wants to win,” Mamon said of the two-time V-League Most Valuable Player.
San Sebastian looks to seal third place against Perpetual Help in Game 2 of their own best-of-three series at 2 p.m.
The Lady Stags, powered by Jeng Bualee’s 34 points, took Game 1 with a marathon 25-14, 25-13, 16-25, 32-34, 15-9 victory.