THE old rivals meet again, but this time in a different league.
Alyssa Valdez and Michele Gumabao, the faces of Ateneo de Manila and De La Salle volleyball, respectively, for so many years, rekindle their rivalry as they lead their respective teams in Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Reinforced Conference finals on Saturday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Valdez’s Bureau of Customs and Gumabao’s Pocari Sweat begin their title showdown at 6 p.m. The last time they met in the finals was in Season 75 of University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), with Gumabao’s Lady Archers prevailing to complete a three-peat.
Valdez will lead the Transformers, who are in the finals in their maiden conference, and is expected support from Thai imports Kanjana Kuthaisong and Natthanicha Jaisaen and locals Rose Marie Vargas, Lilet Mabbayad and Pau Soriano.
“It’s gonna be a long finals series so we really have to go hard and train hard para naman maganda ‘yung mabigay naming laban sa Pocari,” said Valdez, the three-time UAAP and V-League Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Gumabao, the skipper of the Lady Warriors, said they are now two wins away from reaching their goal but she expects a tough series against Customs.
Aside from Gumabao, Pocari Sweat will also be leaning on Myla Pablo, Melissa Gohing, Desiree Dadang, Filipino-American setter Iris Tolenada and Elaine Kasilag.
“‘Yung pinaghihirapan namin sa training, ‘yung pinaghandaan namin, ang goal namin malapit na, ito na nasa Finals na kami,” said Valdez, who was 2-0 against Valdez in the UAAP finals.
“Syempre hindi lang naman goal ang makarating sa finals, ang goal talaga namin this season is to go back-to-back, ‘yun ang pinunta namin dito.”
The Lady Warriors will also bank on imports Breanna Mackie, who recently registered the second best season’s performance with 35 points in Game Two semifinals win over University of Santo Tomas, and Andrea Kacsits.
Pocari Sweat walloped Customs in straight sets, 25-22, 25-22, 26-24, in their elimination-round duel.
The Lady Warriors got ample rest entering Game One, as the Transformers needed three games to beat BaliPure in their semifinal series.
“Advantage for us kasi kailangan namin mag-jell as a team pa hanggang ngayon, kailangan pa namin maglaro nang maglaro para masanay kami,” Valdez said.
“‘Yung disadvantage namin is we really don’t have enough rest, but as an athlete you really have to adjust sa ganoong circumstances. Sana it will work sa favor namin pero kailangan pa rin namin mag-double time at paghirapan bawat puntos para mabigyan namin ng maayos na laro ’yung kalaban,” Valdez added.
Meanwhile, BaliPure and UST start their best-of-three battle for bronze at 4 p.m.
In Spikers’ Turf, Air Force eyes a double title season as it guns for a sweep against Cignal in Game Two of their best-of-three finals at 12:30 p.m.