Lady Eagles gun for last V-League semis berth

ATENEO tries to complete the Final Four cast when it battles Philippine Navy in the Shakey’s V-League Open today at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Lady Eagles (3-4), two games ahead of the fifth-running Lady Sailors (1-6), go for the first of three chances to nail the last semifinal berth in the 4 p.m. match.

Sandugo-San Sebastian (6-1), Philippine Army (6-1) and Cagayan Valley (5-2) already earned tickets to the next round, where the qualifiers will collide in best-of-three duels.

The defending champion Lady Troopers tackle the streaking Rising Suns at 2 p.m., while the Lady Stags clash with Far Eastern University at 6 p.m.

“Both Sandugo and Army are really strong, they have veteran players,” said Cagayan coach Mike Rafael. “But we’ll do our best to give them a tough fight.”

Powered by league top scorer Sandra delos Santos, the Rising Suns aim to stretch their winning run to five games.

But the Rising Suns face an Army side which snapped Sandugo’s unbeaten run, 25-21, 25-22, 16-25, 12-25, 15-8, on Sunday night.

Rachel Ann Daquis hit 17 points, while Mayeth Carolino and Jacqueline Alarca scored 10 each as the Lady Troopers forged a tie for the top spot with the Lady Stags at 6-1.

The Lady Stags, though, are favored to rebound from their first loss in seven games against the winless Lady Tamaraws.

Alyssa Valdez and Fille Cainglet hope to lead the Lady Eagles to a fourth victory after their five-set conquest of the Tamaraws, 22-25, 15-25, 25-21, 26-24, 18-16, last Sunday.