AMC-COTABATO tries to keep in step with fellow newcomer Iloilo as it goes all-out for a third straight victory against winless Santa Rosa Wednesday while Vanguard and Army dispute a share of fourth place in the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila.
The Cotabato Spikers, with nine of their 14 players included in the 15-man national team pool for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, are heavily fancied to get past the City Lions in their 5:30 a.m. encounter following a straight-set romp over the VNS side and a four-set win over the Army Troopers.
In contrast, the young City Lions have dropped their first two matches, bowing in four to the Imus AJAA Spikers, and yielding a three-setter to the Cignal HD Spikers.
Coach Odjie Mamon is expected to bank again on Jau Umandal and Edward Camposano with Rex Intal, Jayvee Sumagaysay and Lloyd Josafat also tipped to step up in an attempt to sustain their strong start in the league organized by Sports Vision.
But Santa Rosa is out to snap its skid with Kevin Montemayor, Anrie Bakil and Yoyong Mendoza vowing to deliver and skipper Harvey Quezada out to redeem himself from an inconsequential one-point output against the Navy Sealions last Friday.
Vanguard and Army, meanwhile, tangle at 3 p.m. with both teams trying to bounce back from losses to VNS and Cotabato, respectively.
But Vince Abrot would need to draw solid support from the rest of the Volley Hitters after single-handedly carrying the team with 18 points the last time out.
The Troopers, on the other hand, will again rely on old hands Benjaylo Labide and PJ Rojas, along with Mark Ensiso and Kevin Liberato.
Games are telecast live on One Sports, One Sports+, Cignal Play and SMART Live Stream.