Games Sunday
(The Arena, San Juan)
2 p.m. – St. Benilde vs Lyceum
4 p.m. – Adamson vs USJR

Last year’s runner up Adamson University and Lyceum will try to secure at least a playoff for the last quarterfinal berth this Sunday when they shoot for their second wins against separate rivals in Group A of the 7th Shakey’s V-League at The Arena in San Juan.

Fresh from a four-set win over College of St. Benilde, the flu-stricken Lady Falcons take on the debuting University of San Jose-Recoletos Lady Jaguars at 4 p.m. while the Lady Pirates battle the winless St. Benilde Lady Blazers in the opener at 2 p.m.

Thirteen Lady Falcons were hit by viral infection because of the prevailing weather condition last Thursday, but Adamson managed to eke out the win – thanks largely to Angela Benting who fired season-high 27 hits.

Although most of coach Dulce Pante’s players are expectedly not in their top form, the Lady Falcons remain favored against the debuting Lady Jaguars, who will have RP team member Michiko Castaneda as one of their guest players.

Even coach Grace Antigua is concerned about the Lady Jaguars debut, citing the bright lights and the TV cameras could again affect her wards’ focus.

“That’s always our problem. They play with so much pressure in front of the TV cameras. They could not play their true potentials when they are here in Manila,” Antigua said in Filipino of her Cebu-based team.

The Lady Jaguars will return to the league carrying a dismal two-win record in their past two conference stints. “Our main goal is to surpass our two-win output,” Antigua said.

Aside from Benting, Paulina Soraino and Nene Bautista, Admason’s power-hitting guest player, will be the other headaches for Antigua who will try to come up with a solid game plan to neutralize them.

Behind Thai import Porntrip Santrong, the Lady Pirates managed to pull off a four-set win against the Lady Falcons in their opening game, their first over the San Marcelino-based squad in two years, which sparked hopes for a team whose best finish in the league is a couple of third place finishes.