University of Santo Tomas tries to formalize its stint in the semifinal round as it shoots for a fifth straight victory against a resurgent St. Benilde side today (Saturday) in the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Collegiate Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.
The Tigresses swept their first three matches in smashing fashion then disposed off the UP Lady Maroons in four to zero in on the first slot in the Final Four of the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
But they expect a tougher challenge from the Lady Blazers in a duel of offense vs defense at 4 p.m. with the latter coming off a four-set romp over the San Beda U Lady Red Spikers last week that snapped their back-to-back setbacks.
Ejiya Laure and Milena Alessandrini, along with Tin Francisco, Kecelyn Galdones, Jamie Jimenez, Carla Sandoval and setter Alina Bicar, have been dishing out big games for UST with Laure and Alessandrini tipped to preside the team’s offense again against the Blazers, to be led by Anne Umali and Marites Pablo, currently the Nos. 2 and 5, in blocking with averages of 0.92 and 0.62 kill blocks, respectively.
The España-based squad remained the league’s top spiking team with 33.88 percent success while St. Benilde is No. 2 in blocking behind Adamson with a norm of 2.54 kill blocks. The Lady Blazers are also the No. 2 team in receive and third in digs, both behind Adamson, making them a worthy challenger to the power-hitting Tigresses.
San Beda and San Sebastian, meanwhile, tangle at 2 p.m. in a clash of winless squads in the tournament backed by Mikasa and Asics. Both matches can be viewed live via streaming on www.abs-cbn.com/livestream/pvl.
Meanwhile, fierce action also looms in the men’s division with UST likewise gunning for its fifth straight win against Adamson, which saw its four-game run snap on a five-set loss to a surging Far Eastern U last Sunday.
Gametime is at 9 a.m. with UP (2-2) and Perpetual Help (1-4) colliding at 11 a.m.
St. Benilde, on the other hand, seeks a third win in five games against winless Arellano U at 6 p.m.
