Ateneo belles shoot for last semis seat, faces struggling Navy

THE BELLES of Ateneo aim to take the last seat to the semifinals against a Navy team trying to stay in contention in the Shakey’s V-League Open today at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Coming off a tough come-from-behind five-set win over the Far Eastern University Lady Tams last Sunday, the Lady Eagles set out as the slight favorites to repeat over the back-to-the-wall Lady Sailors in the 4 p.m. game.

The Lady Eagles look to formalize their stint in the semifinal round with a win today.

With a 3-4 (win-loss) mark, Ateneo needs only a win in its last three games to book the No. 4 spot and a date with the No. 1 squad in the Final Four.

At 1-6, Navy must sweep its last three matches and hope Ateneo loses at least two of its last three games to force a playoff for the last semis berth.

But the way the first conference champions fought from the brink and ousted the Lady Tams in a thrilling fightback Sunday, the Sailors will have to triple their effort to stop the Eagles and keep their slim hopes alive.

Army and Sandugo, meanwhile, zero in on the No. 1 spot as they take on separate rivals with the Lady Troopers colliding with a surging Cagayan Valley side at 2 p.m. and the Lady Stags clashing with the Tams at 6 p.m. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio