V-League: Ateneo, UST Seek Victories

....................................................................... By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA Games today

(The Arena, San Juan)

Reigning champion Ateneo and multi-titled squad University of Santo Tomas aim to extend their hot start when they battle separate foes today in the 9th Shakeys V-League presented by Smart at The Arena in San Juan.w The Lady eagles clash with the National University Lady Bulldogs at 2 p.m., while the Tigresses tangle with the Adamson Lady Falcons in the 4 p.m. main game. Ateneo and UST started their respective title hunts on a high note, with the Lady Eagles besting the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 25-17,25-18,19-25,25-15, in the opening day Tuesday, even as the Tigress-es dumped the Letran spikers, 18-25, 2516, 25-20, 25-21, on Thursday. The Lady Eagles are expecting rough sailing against the Lady Bulldogs who are out to regain lost ground following a five-setter defeat to NCAA champion Perpetual Help Lady Atlas three days back. Ateneo coach Roger Gorayeb will lean anew on formidable spikers Fille Cainglet and Alyssa Valdez, who combined for 32 points in their first match, while getting enough support

from Thai guest player Phee Nok Kesinee and Dzi Gervacio, who provided seven of the teams 11 block. NU, for its part, will not give up without a fight to stay in the hunt for a quarterfinal berth in the short singleround elims divided into two groups, with Din-din Santiago at the forefront of their attack. In the other pairing, UST is favored to beat Adamson. The Tigresses, winner of six crowns in the league, are going all out once again after dominating all departments against the Letran belles. UST limited Letran to only 15 kills from 93 attempts and a single block out of 46 tries. Thai Utaiwan Kaensing, Judy Ca- ballejo and Maika Ortiz, who stepped up with a combined 43 points against Letran, are slated to banner the Espa-na-based crew to another win that will earn them a share of the lead with San Sebastian College (2-0) in Group B. Adamson wll have Nene Bautist, Angela Benting and Pau Soriano to match up with USTs top spikers.