Standings

*Army               4 0

*PLDT              3 1

UP                  2 2

Navy               2 3

KIA Forte        1 3

Coast Guard             1 4

*Semifinalists

 

Games Saturday

12:45 p.m. – PLDT vs Kia Forte

3 p.m. – Army vs UP

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

University of the Philippines tries to check its skid and nail the third semifinal berth as it collides with unbeaten Army Saturday even as PLDT Home Ultera primes up for the Final Four with former US NCAA standouts against Kia Forte in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12-Reinforced Conference elims at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Lady Maroons made quite an impression by hurdling their first two assignments, including a come-from-behind victory over the Navy Lady Sailors, but dropped their next two games to the Ultra Fast Hitters and Kia Forte, enabling the Lady Sailors and Kia Forte to stay in the fight for the last two semis slots.

But they need to beat an Army team out to complete its sweep of the single round elims of the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s and presented by PLDT Home Ultera.

Gametime is at 3 p.m. after the 12:45 p.m. clash between PLDT and Kia Forte, both to be shown live on GMA News TV Channel 11, according to the organizing Sports Vision.

Meanwhile, PLDT, which took the second semis berth with a 3-1 slate, parades former NCAA aces Sareea Freeman and Victoria Hurtt as it clashes with Kia Forte, at 1-3 in a must-win to salvage a playoff for the last semis slot.

Freeman and Hurtt arrived late Wednesday night and were welcomed by no less than PLDT coach Roger Gorayeb and manager Francis Bautista.

“They will practice for two days and they will immediately play in our next game,” Gorayeb told The STAR.

Freeman served as a 6-4 middle blocker at Florida State from 2009 to 2012 including an NCAA Final Four stint in 2011 and hit a career .356, 666 kills and 393 blocks while the 6-3 Hurtt is an outside spiker for the Iowa State Cyclones from 2011 to 2014 and won awards including All-Big 12 First Team in 2012 and 2014.

Freeman could also help serve as mentor, being a former assistant coach at University of Albany.

Gorayeb hopes his two new players will help boost their title chances, especially against the powerhouse Lady Troopers. The veteran mentor is also aiming to post a first-ever sweep of the season’s crowns after steering PLDT past Army in the Open Conference and National U over Ateneo in the Collegiate Conference.