PVL: Tigresses, Lady Tams seek share of lead

Games today
9 a.m. – La Salle vs Adamson (men’s)
11 a.m. – St. Benilde vs National U (men’s)
2 p.m. – San Beda vs FEU (women’s)
4 p.m. – Perpetual vs UST (women’s)
6 p.m. – Perpetual vs UST (men’s)

UST and Far Eastern U seek an early share of the lead in the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Collegiate Conference as they take on a pair of unfancied rivals looking to pull off early surprises at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan today.

The Tigresses leaned on their power game to blast the San Sebastian College side, 25-21, 25-12, 25-17, last Sunday with the España-based squad confident of hurdling the Perpetual Help Lady Altas, who dropped a straight-set defeat to the pre-tournament favorite Adamson in the opener of the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision last Saturday.

Gametime is at 4 p.m. with UST tipped to bank again on the likes of Milena Alessandrini, Kecelyn Galdones, Ejiya Laure and skipper Christine Francisco.

Eleven players actually churned out two hits or more to underscore the Tigresses’ firepower and depth which UST expects to use again when they go up against the Perpetual side led by Aurora Tripoli, Cindy Imbo, Jhona Rosal, Jenny Gaviola and Mae Umandal.

The Lady Tams, on the other hand, face the debuting San Beda U Red Spikers at 2 p.m., hoping to come up with a killer instinct lacking in their shaky opening game victory over the St. Benilde Lady Blazers.

FEU took the first two sets but relaxed in the next two, enabling the Taft-based school to rebound and force a decider. But the runners-up last year recovered in time and pounced on their rivals’ series of miscues in the decider to pound out a 25-19, 32-30, 15-25, 24-26, 15-4 romp, also last Sunday.

But they expect a strong challenge from the Red Spikers, who are also out to make an early impression in the league reduced to eight teams following the last-minute withdrawal of inaugural champion National U.

Also vying in the two-month long event backed by Mikasa and Asics also serving as part of the participating schools’ buildup for their respective leagues is UP which will open its campaign on Saturday against Perpetual Help.

Also on tap are three matches in the men’s division with La Salle and Adamson tangling at 9 a.m. and St. Benilde and National U clashing at 11 a.m. Perpetual and UST cap the day-long tournament at 6 p.m.