Games today (Tuesday)
1 p.m. – Coast Guard vs Animo
3 p.m. – Easytrip vs Sta. Elena
5 p.m. – IEM vs PHL team
The national team faces a struggling Instituto Estetico Manila side today, looking for its fifth win in six games even as Animo Green and Sta. Elena take on a pair of winless rivals in the Spikers’ Turf Season 4 Reinforced Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Led by the power-hitting Marck Espejo and Vic de Guzman, the Rebisco-backed Nationals are tipped to get past the IEM Phoenix Volley Masters in the 5 p.m. main dish of another explosive trible-bill in the event also serving as part of the Philippine team’s training for the SEA Games late this year.
After dominating their first two rivals, the Nationals absorbed a stinging 1-3 loss to the powerhouse Cignal HD Spikers but bounced back with a five-set win over Navy and a shutout victory over Army to tie PLDT at second.
Sta. Elena, on the other hand, hopes to improve its 2-3 card as it tangles with Easytrip at 3 p.m. while Animo, toting a 3-2 slate, squares off with Coast Guard in the 1 p.m. opener.
But expect Coast Guard and Easytrip to go flat out in pursuit of their first victory in six and seven games, respectively in the country’s premier men’s league organized by Sports Vision.
Meanwhile, league-leading Cignal HD subdued PLDT in a duel of unbeaten teams Sunday, scoring a 25-21, 25-19, 25-19 romp, as the former stretched its win run to five while dealing the latter its first loss in five games.
Sta. Elena also notched its second win in five games as it repulsed Navy, 25-22, 25-11, 20-25, 25-23, while VNS Volley Club turned back Easytrip, 25-18, 20-25, 25-10, 29-27, to end a three-game skid.
