All-NCAA Finals

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It's powerhouse Sandugo-San Sebastian vs. upset-minded Cagayan-UPHSD
in the all-NCAA Shakey's V-League Open Finals.

Since the formation of the Shakey's V-League in 2004, we have never heard of an all-NCAA finals in the country's premier volleyball league. Not until tonight as the 2012 Shakey's V-League Open Conference Finals goes underway at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The Sandugo-San Sebastian Lady Conquerors and the Cagayan-Perpetual Help Rising Suns collide in this best-of-3 showdown which pits off two NCAA volleyball powers.

History: As I mentioned, this is the first time two NCAA teams clash in the V-League Finals, but that leads us back to February in the NCAA semifinals, where the Rising Suns, i.e. the Lady Altas, eliminated the Lady Conquerors, aka the Lady Stags, from finals contention in straight sets. The Lady Altas would go on to beat Letran in the finals. That would serve as Roger Gorayeb's final year with the Lady Stags NCAA-wise before he serves a two-year ban for his involvement in the infamous December NCAA brawl.

What Now: Before he leaves the NCAA (for a while), Gorayeb wants to steer his team to a championship, and the best time is now. Sandugo-Baste enters the finals with a near-flawless record, only losing once to the erstwhile champs Army led by Rachel Daquis. The Lady Conquerors would beat no less than Gorayeb's other team, the Ateneo Lady Eagles, in the semis via a devastating sweep. The defending NCAA champions, on the other hand, surprised everyone when they beat Army in the semis also by a sweep, setting the all-NCAA finale.

Key Match-Up: Sandra Delos Santos vs. Joy Benito-We have seen this a lot of times in the NCAA, but this individual rivalry between these two perennial MVP contenders (with Benito winning the plum) goes to a whole new level starting tonight. Also to watch out is the match-up between their respective Thai imports.

Forecast: Payback for the Lady Stags. Sandugo-San Sebastian in three.