Volleyball: Lady Stags, Eagles duel for solo lead

Games Thursday

2 p.m. - Perpetual Help vs National U

4 p.m. - Adamson vs Lyceum

6 p.m. - Ateneo vs SSC-Excelroof Current Standings W L SSC-R 2 0 ADMU 2 0 NU 1 1 Perpetual 1 1 LPU 1 1 AdU 1 1 FEU 1 2 CSB 0 3

MANILA, July 21 (PNA) -- San Sebastian-Excelroof and Ateneo dispute the solo lead in the Shakey's V-League Season 7 today in what could be a preview of the championship between two of the league's most fancied teams at The Arena in San Juan.

Odds are just about even in the featured 6 p.m. encounter of another explosive triple-bill with both squads, hoping to draw leadership and power from their respective Thai imports and inspiration from their equally talented local crew.

The Lady Stags, however, turned in the more impressive start with a pair of sweep wins over Lyceum and St. Benilde while the Lady Eagles also scored a straight-set win over Far Eastern U but struggled past newcomer Perpetual Help in a five-set thriller.

But that doesn't make SSC invincible although the Recoletos-based cagers can ride on the momentum of its pair of three-set romps to stop Ateneo on its tracks and continue its win run in the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey's Pizza.

Jeng Bualee of SSC, who pooled 38 points in two games, and Boonyuen Surasawadee of Ateneo, who had 36 hits, are expected to neutralize each other's power game, leaving much of the scoring and defensive loads to the locals.

Joy Benito and guest player Suzanne Roces will be Bualee's backup on the SSC side along with Elaine Cruz, Melissa Mirasol and Jennelyn Belen while Surasawadee hopes to draw solid support from local guest player Alyssa Valdez and regulars Gretchen Ho, Bea Pascual, Fille Cainglet, Denise Acevedo and Angeline Gervacio.

Perpetual Help and National U provide the equally interesting duel at 2 p.m. as they clash for a share of second in a showdown of newcomers while Adamson and Lyceum tangle at 4 p.m. with the winner also moving up in joint second.

Guest player Nica Guliman of Perpetual, the leading spiker so far in the early going of the tournament organized by Sports Vision and backed by Accel, Mikasa and Excelroof, tries to sustain her fine start as she leads the Lady Altas' bid against the Lady Bulldogs.

The two teams split their first two games in a rather impressive start with NU toppling St. Benilde before bowing to Adamson and Perpetual nipping Adamson before falling short to Ateneo in five sets.

The Adamson-Lyceum encounter is also expected to be a closely-fought contest with both teams seeking a second straight win after dropping their opening games. (PNA)