Ateneo eyes last semis berth, takes on army today

ATENEO tries to snatch the last berth in the semifinals but will have to go through the defending champions Army in the Shakey’s V-League Open today at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Lady Eagles, winners of the league’s first conference, dropped a heart-breaking four-setter to the Navy Sailors last Tuesday, enabling the latter to stay in the hunt for the last semis seat while jeopardizing the former’s own bid.

The win was Navy’s second against six wins as it moved closer to fourth running Ateneo, which dropped to 3-5 (win-loss), heading to the last two playdates of the double-round eliminations.

Navy, led by Mayi Prochina and Kiteh Rosale, seeks to stay closer or tie Ateneo as it takes on winless Far Eastern U in the 2 p.m. contest. League-leading Sandugo-San Sebastian (7-1), meanwhile, seeks to firm up its hold of the top spot as it squares off with Cagayan Valley-Perpetual Help in the 6 p.m. main game.

The No. 1 team will play the No. 4 squad in the semis with the Nos. 2 and 3 teams disputing the other finals slot in the pair of best-of-three playoffs. The winners will clash for the crown in another best-of-three affair. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio