Adamson, SSC Battle For V-League Crown

Adamson hopes to cap a brilliant run in the Shakey’s V-League Season 7 second conference as it goes for the first of two wins it needs against San Sebastian-Excelroof to bring home the crown at The Arena in San Juan today.

The Lady Falcons are on a stirring seven-game streak, including a sweep of the quarterfinal round and their Final Four duel with the Lyceum Lady Pirates. But what makes their title drive impressive are the two wins they posted over the
Lady Stags in the conference.

With a big psychological edge, the San Marcelino-based squad hopes to make it three-in-row in their 4 p.m. duel and move within a win from wrapping up an outstanding campaign in pursuit of a second championship in the country’s
premier women’s volley league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

But the Lady Falcons, who won their first title in Season 5 first conference over Ateneo, will be facing a SSC side raring to get even and fan its own title drive. Moreover, the Lady Stags wouldn’t want to end the season with a pair of
bridesmaid finishes after losing the first conference crown to the UST Tigresses.

That makes Game One of the best-of-three series doubly interesting with both teams expected to come up with surprises to startle the other team’s play patterns.

Adamson coach Dulce Pante said they need to improve on their blocking, floor defense and reception while expressing confidence they can match up with the power-hitting Lady Stags in offense on a team built around Nerissa Bautista, Michelle Laborte, Pau Soriano, Angela Benting, Lourdes Patilano, Gail Martin and libero Angelica Vasquez.

Like SSC, Adamson is chasing its second championship in the league organized by Sports Vision and backed by Accel, Mikasa and Excelroof and Pante believes her wards’ training and determination will be the key.

The Lady Stags are expected to lean on their power to get back at their tormentors with Thai import Jeng Bualee to lead the way along with Suzanne Roces and Joy Benito with support to come from Elaine Cruz and Melissa Mirasol and setter Jennelyn Belen.

With a 37.76 percent success, the Lady Stags have lorded it over the field on their way to the finals in spikes, outhitting their rivals by a margin with the Lyceum Lady Pirates in far second with 32.63 percent clip.

The Lady Falcons are in fourth behind the Ateneo Lady Eagles (31.79 percent), turning in a 30.53 percent norm although they have more than made up for the slack by emerging the league’s top blocking team.

The Lady Stags have made the finals seven times, including in this year’s first conference where they fell short of their bid and lost to the Tigresses, who bounced back from the series’ opener and swept the next two to become the
league’s winningest team with six titles.

San Sebastian did win in the fifth season’s second conference in 2008 where it turned back UST. But the search for the second crown has been very tough, including this one since the Lady Stags will be going up against the very team
which they have not beaten in the conference.

Shakey's V-League