UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) tackles University of the Philippines (UP) in a battle for the solo lead in Group B of the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Collegiate Conference on Saturday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
After two impressive wins, the Tigresses face their toughest test yet as they test the mettle of the vastly improved Lady Maroons at 6 p.m., but they will miss the services of Cherry Rondina and EJ Laure, who will play for Foton in the Philippine Superliga finals scheduled on the same day.
In the first game, it will be a battle of Group B cellar dwellers as College of Saint Benilde (CSB) and San Beda College face off at 4 p.m., as they both eye their first win and end a three-game slide.
Minus Rondina and Laure, Tigresses Head Coach KungFu Reyes now has to bank on high-school guest player Eya Laure, who has been impressive in her first two matches and will add firepower for the UST squad that also includes Ria Meneses, Christine Francisco, setter Alina Bicar, Chloe Cortez and Rica Rivera.
Rivera is returning to action after missing the team’s first two games.
The young but dangerous Lady Maroons of Head Coach Jerry Yee will be bannered by incoming sophomores Isa Molde, Diana Carlos, Justine Dorog, skipper Kathy Bersola and Nicole Tiamzon.
UST and UP are tied with Far Eastern University (FEU) for the top spot in Group B with 2-0 win-loss mark each. They are already through the quarterfinals.
Aside from the No. 1 slot, the is also important as their record in the first round will be carried over in the next stage, where they will play the top 3 teams in Group A for another round-robin format.
In Spikers’ Turf, defending champion Ateneo de Manila also shoots for solo lead in Group B and extends its winning streak to three games as it faces the winless National College of Business and Arts at 10 a.m., while FEU goes for solo second spot in Group A as it battles Philippine Merchant Marine School at 12 noon.