THE battle for the Shakey’s V-League Second Conference crown boils down to a deciding third game today with University of Santo Tomas (UST) hoping to keep the momentum of its big Game Two win and San Sebastian College (SSC) raring to bounce back and score a breakthrough victory.

The Lady Stags, runners-up in the last two conferences, took the opener of the best-of-three showdown, 25-16, 25-19, 17-25, 23-25, 15-13, on Friday. But the Tigresses, winners of the first conference, fought back with an emphatic 25-16, 25-15, 25-21 triumph Sunday to send the series to a winner-take-all match.

That should make the lone game set at 5 p.m. at The Arena in San Juan doubly interesting with no team holding a distinct advantage over the other despite the Tigresses’ sweep in Game Two.

Thai import Jaroensri Bualee of San Sebastian College gives everything she’s got but the Lady Stags fall short in Game Two of the V-League finals Sunday at The Arena in San Juan. --NonoyLacza

“I don’t believe in momentum. Anything can happen in a Game Three,” said UST coach August Santamaria, whose Tigresses are seeing action in a sudden death for the first time after a couple of title sweeps, including a 2-0 win over the Lady Stags on July.

Guest player Suzanne Roces and Mary Jean Balse made things happen for UST the last time out, combining for 28 points while limiting SSC’s Thai import Jaroensri Bualee to 17 points.

The UST duo also came through with four blocks each to underscore the Tigresses superb net defense. Roces and Balse also finished with five service points between themselves.

But expect the Lady Stags to rebound from that setback with SSC coach Roger Gorayeb stressing the need to firm up their defense upfront and come up with good reception.

“We have to play tougher net defense if we want to win,” said Gorayeb.

Bualee, the league’s second scoring leader, must also step up and play true to form after she was held below her 22-point average. Laurence Ann Latigay, who delivered the game winners in the series opener, is also expected to atone for her paltry 11-point output in Game Two.

Meanwhile, the UST-SSC sudden death will be aired on NBN 4 starting at 2 p.m. tomorrow. For updates on Shakey’s V-League, organized by Sports Vision and backed by Mikasa, Accel, 100Plus Isotonic Drink, Coca-Cola and Active White Skin whitening products, log on to www.v-league.ph.

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THE battle for the Shakey’s V-League Second Conference crown boils down to a deciding third game today with University of Santo Tomas (UST) hoping to keep the momentum of its big Game Two win and San Sebastian College (SSC) raring to bounce back and score a breakthrough victory.

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