Games Today (The Arena, San Juan)
4 p.m. – Systema vs IEM (men’s)
6 p.m. – Meralco vs Cagayan (women’s)
Systema Tooth and Gum Care and Instituto Estetico Manila (IEM) clash today in a preview of the men’s final in the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Reinforced Conference at The Arena in San Juan.
Game time is at 4 p.m. with the Active Smashers and the Volley Masters aiming to bolster their respective title campaigns at the end of the double-round robin eliminations.
Both Systema and IEM earned final berths as early as last after keeping their hold for the top spot in the four-team field. The two squads are facing each other sporting identical 4-1 records, with the Active Smashers coming off a straight-set win over the Rizal Technological University Blue Thunder two days ago.
Systema Assistant Coach Jhay R Libay said they have the height advantage against IEM, but they need to improve on their floor defense since the Volley Masters boast of strong spikers in Salvador Timbal, Jason Canlas, Karl Dela Calzada, and Jeffrey Jimenez.
“Malakas kami sa atake. Kailangan lang pagbutihin namin yung reception namin, at saka yung first ball. Kung maganda ang receive, mas madaling makakapuntos,” said Libay.
Matching up IEM’s offensive assault are Systema’s Salvador Depante, Christopher Antonio, and Patrick John Rojas, while providing a tough defensive wall behind the net are Sylvester Honrade and Roland Tonquin.
Cagayan Valley, likewise, primes up for the women’s final when it tangles with winless Meralco in their last elims assignment at 6 p.m.
The Rising Suns, who currently carry a 3-1 mark at second place, earned a free ride to the championship round after finalist Army Lady Troopers ousted the PLDT Turbo Boosters in five sets last Tuesday.
Cagayan easily won its first meeting over Meralco last Oct. 14 in straight sets and is expected to come out strong with the presence of Thai imports Patcharee Saengmuang and Amporn Hyapha.
Local spikers Angeli Tabaquero, Aiza Maizo and Janine Marciano are also slated to provide explosive offensive plays for the Rising Suns.
Meralco, for its part, targets nothing but a good finish after losing its first five matches with foreign reinforcements Wanida Kotruang and Misao Tanyama at the forefront of its attack.