Games Monday

1 p.m. – UE vs NU

3 p.m. – Ateneo vs La Salle-Dasma

5 p.m. – St. Benilde vs UP

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

St. Benilde tests University of the Philippines’ mettle as they dispute the Group B lead Monday while Ateneo tries to gain a share of it as it takes on La Salle-Dasmariñas at the resumption of the Spikers’ Turf Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan.

The Blazers, runners-up to the NCAA champion Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, overwhelmed the La Salle-Dasma Patriots in three last Wednesday and are fancied to use their power and experience against the Maroons in their 5 p.m. clash in the second week of the first-ever inter-collegiate men’s volley championship presented by PLDT Home Ultera.

UP also hurdled its opening day match against Arellano U, which it beat in four but the Maroons will have their hands full against a St. Benilde side spearheaded by skipper Johnvic Guzman, Mark Orian, Racmade Etrone, Ron Jordan, Isaah Arda and Berwin Coming.

UP coach Melchor Santos, on the other hand, will pin his hopes on open spiker Wendel Miguel, who unloaded 17 hits against Arellano, with support to come from Alfred Valbuena, Mark Millete, Julius Raymundo and Gian San Pascual.

Ateneo, the reigning UAAP champion, seek to dispose of another La Salle rival in the Cavite-based squad after thumping La Salle-Taft in four to kick off its title drive in the three-month long tournament backed by Mikasa and organized by Sports Vision and held Mondays and Wednesdays.

Game time is at 3 p.m. with the Eagles to be led by Ysrael Marasigan, Marck Espejo, Joshua Villanueva and Rex Intal.

Still, the Patriots hope to spring a surprise on a team built around Eddimar Kasim, Aldin Bin and Aidam Adam with coach Joven Racelis also banking on his guest players Alvin Cacayuran and Wilbert Sapida.

In the first match at 1 p.m., National U guns for the solo lead in Group A as it plays University of the East. The Bulldogs swept the Mapua Cardinals while the Warriors took a straight-set beating from the Generals, also last week.

Meanwhile, EAC-UE clash will be shown on PTV 4 starting at 3:30 p.m. today. Games are aired on a delayed basis from Monday to Friday while Saturday telecast begins at 9:15 p.m.