THE SOUTHWESTERN University Lady Cobras get one last shot at barging into the win column today and avoid the ignominy of going home without a single victory as they tackle the reigning NCAA champions Perpetual Help in the 9th Shakey’s V-League at the Arena in San Juan City.
So far, the Lady Cobras have not played up to par and is in danger of getting swept in all their games in this tournament.
They recently got beaten by the defending champions Ateneo last Sunday for their third loss in as many games.
The Lady Altas, toting an even 1-1 (win-loss) card, need a victory to seal their stint in the next round.
Perpetual Help nipped National U in five sets last April 26 but took a straight-set loss to Ateneo last week, dropping the Lady Altas to third in the five-team group.
The University of St. La Salle, on the other hand, faces a tougher rival in former two-time champion but winless Adamson in the 4 p.m. main contest with the Lady Stingers gunning for a win to advance and avoid the specter of going through a playoff for the last quarters berth in Group B.
Meanwhile, the Tigresses, with Judy Caballero firing 14 hits and former MVP Mary Jean Balse adding 12 points, capped last Sunday’s sweep of the fancied teams as they toppled the Lady Stingers, 25-23, 25-12, 25-14, to match SSC’s unbeaten run.
The top four teams from each group after the single round elims will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will be grouped into one for another one round competition. However, teams that clashed in the eliminations will no longer meet in the quarterfinals although their records will be carried over. The top four squads will advance to the crossover semis, a pair of best-of-three matches between Nos. 1 and 4 and Nos. 2 and 3 with the winners disputing the crown./Correspondent Jonas Panerio