Former and reigning MVPs Mary Jean Balse and Aiza Maizo will join forces to shore up University of Santo Tomas’ drive for title No. 6 in the Shakey’s V-League which opens on April 11 at The Arena in San Juan.
Balse, a two-time MVP (2004 and 2009, first conference) who has powered UST to three titles, is back as guest player of a squad that has kept the core of its champion team, which include the power-hitting Maizo and mainstays Rhea Dimaculangan, Angeli Tabaquero, Maru Banaticla and Maika Ortiz.
Balse was the school’s guest player in last year’s first conference before Roxanne Pimentel took her spot in the next.
The oldest university in Asia which will celebrate its 400th anniversary next year, UST has only dropped three players – Michelle del Rosario, Jen Fortuno and Pimentel – in its roster while it kept Judy Caballero, Hanna Mance and Jane Gonzales to underscore its serious bid for a third straight title and a record sixth overall.
The Tigresses completed a sweep of last year’s twin titles by edging San Sebastian (first conference) and Adamson (second conference).
The reigning UAAP titleholders, the Tigresses are expected to name their other guest player in the next few days as the organizing Sports Vision brings back its two-reinforcement per squad format this season to further level the playing field and make the league more interesting.
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