Balse, Roces highlight duel of V-League titans

THE CAREERS of Mary Jean Balse and Suzanne Roces’ have become so intertwined that as they highlight the clash of undefeated Shakey’s V-League teams today, they could just put Perpetual Help’s bid for a semifinal slot in the shadows at the Filoil Flying V Arena.

Roces’ Ateneo and Balse’s UST clash in a clash of titans that could very much end up a Finals preview. The two teams cap a three-game schedule at 6 p.m., right after Perpetual tries to tab a semifinal slot at 2 p.m. against St. La Salle and San Sebastian faces FEU at 4 p.m.

“I’m happy because UST has so much faith in me,” Balse said in Filipino.

A two-time conference MVP, Balse has several individual honors that go with the five titles she has under her belt.

“I am the veteran of this team. My role is now to guide the younger players and help them win games,” the 28-year-old Balse said.

Roces, on the other hand, hardly surprised anyone when the former San Sebastian ace took her talents to Katipunan. After all, mentoring the Lady Eagles is a very familiar face: Her former coach with the Lady Stags, Roger Gorayeb, now calls the shots for the Lady Eagles.

The two-time conference MVP also won three titles, anchoring San Sebastian’s lone championship conquest in 2008.

Meanwhile, reigning NCAA champion Perpetual Help can formalize its entry into the Final Four with a victory over the Bacolod-based Lady Stingers. San Sebastian, on the other hand, hopes to beef up its semifinal bid against FEU. Randolph Leongson, Contributor