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Lady Stags, Lady Tams are teams to beat at V-League


Games on Sunday San Juan Arena 30 March 2008 1 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies (Telecast date, March 31) 2 p.m - Ateneo vs Lyceum (Telecast date, March 31) 4 p.m. - San Sebastian vs St. Benilde (Telecast date, April 1) MANILA, Philippines - The first conference of the Shakey’s V-League Season 5 will open on Sunday (March 30) with the San Sebastian College (SSC) Lady Stags and the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws leading the pack as the the teams to beat for the crown. At least, that's what the coaches of the other teams in the tournament think, basing their assessment on the superior lineup and experience of the teams of both schools. The coaches were at Tuesday's Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum held at the Shakey’s on UN Avenue in Malate, Manila. The two favorites are currently reigning champs of two of the Philippines big leagues – SSC in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and FEU in the Universities Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP). The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tigresses, who are V-Leauge three-time champs, will skip the tournament this year due to various reasons, as will the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers, who are also three-time champs. Depth and experience According to Adamson University assistant coach Sherwin Meneses, who spoke in the absence of head coach Dulce Pante: "Both teams have the distinct advantage because of the depth of their lineup and, of course, experience competing in the V-League. That’s why they will be the favorites to win the tournament." Lyceum head coach Emil Lontoc agreed, but said his team will do its best to have a modest showing in the tournament, which is being handled by the Sports Vision Management Group Inc., which has Moying Martelino as chairman. "Ako naman, hindi talaga malakas ang team na hawak ko ngayon, pero lalaban kami," Lontoc said in an interview with GMANews.TV. "Who knows? We may pull out a surprise." Lontoc is also the head coach of the University of Santo Tomas men’s volleyball team. Coach Edwin Leyva of the College of St. Benilde (CSB) said his team will use the tournament as a springboard for the coming 84th season of the NCAA volleyball competitions. Like Lontoc, Leyva said his team would do their best to make a good showing in the tournament. FEU without Cafranca, Daquis FEU coach Ernesto Pamilar downplayed the Lady Tamaraws' chances for the tournament, though they're one of the two favorites. According to Pamilar, one of his top players, Josephine Cafranca, will no longer play for his team because she wants to get a job. Another top player, crowd favorite Rachel Ann Daquis, may also not play in the tournament because she is busy taking care of some personal matters. So the Lady Tamaraws will have to bank on UAAP MVP Wendyanne Semana, Micaella Irish Morada, Anna Camille Abanto, and the improving Shaira Gonzales. He added that some of his rookies will get more playing time in the V-League than they did in the last UAAP season. "Si Cafranca hindi na maglalaro sa team dahil naghahanap na ng trabaho," Pamilar said. "Si Rachel naman, inaasikaso ang papers niya sa Germany. Pero ang core andyan pa with Semana, Morada, Abanto and Gonzales,” the multititled coach said. "I also expect my rookies to shine this time dahil bibigyan ko sila ng playing time. We will use this tournament also as a springboard in our preparation for UAAP Season 71." SSC coach Roger Gorayab said his team prepared hard for the tournament in hopes of finally bagging the elusive crown. The Lady Stags managed to enter the finals of the V-League twice last year but failed to bring home the bacon after being subdued by the UST Tigresses. According to Ateneo coach Michelle Laborte, Thai import Jindarat Kanchana is already practicing with the team and is ready to play on Sunday. The core of the team will be intact with only Crytal Ballentyne missing the tournament. "She (Kanchana) will play this coming Sunday. Hopefully, she will have a good showing for us," Laborte, who was once a member of the RP women’s team in 2001, 2003, and 2005, said. The Shakey's V-League's opening ceremony will start at 1 p.m. at The Arena in San Juan. The six teams competing in the league • San Sebastian College - Recoletos (NCAA three-peat champion and last conference’s first runner-up) • FEU (UAAP Season 70 champion) • Adamson University (UAAP Season 70 first runner-up and UniGames champion) • Ateneo de Manila University (UAAP Season 70 semifinalist and last conference’s second runner-up) • College of Saint Benilde (NCAA Season 83 first runner-up) • Lyceum of the Philippines University (seven-time WNCAA champion) Joining the Manila teams are teams from Visayas – CESAFI champion University of San Jose - Recoletos (Bacolod City) and UniGames first runner-up University of Saint La Salle (Cebu City0. According to Tonyboy Liao, V-League commissioner, the two teams were invited because volleyball is very popular in the Visayas. The two teams, regular fixtures in the UniGames in Bacolod where UAAP and NCAA teams also play, would play only in the quarterfinals. "The team won’t play in the elimination due to logistical constraints," he said. - GMANews.TV
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