Games today:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
10 a.m. — La Salle vs NU (m)
12 p.m. — Adamson vs UST (m)
2 p.m. — La Salle vs NU (w)
4 p.m. — Adamson vs UST (w)
University of Santo Tomas guns for a first-round sweep as it battles Adamson University, while De La Salle University and National University collide in a rematch of last year’s Finals in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Golden Tigresses are determined to keep on going in the 4 p.m. clash with the Lady Falcons.
The Lady Spikers and the Lady Bulldogs leave everything on the floor in the 2 p.m. curtain raiser.
Pitted against an Adamson side still figuring out its identity, UST is not taking last season’s third-placers lightly as it vies for a first-round sweep, which the España-based program last achieved in the 2006-07 season.
“We can’t afford to be complacent because the tournament is still in the early stages. It’s not advisable to relax,” said Tigresses rookie and league-leading scorer Angge Payos.
The Lady Falcons have felt the effects of the departure of several key players from last season’s impressive return to the podium.
Adamson suffered a tough 19-25, 19-25, 25-22, 23-25 loss to Ateneo last Wednesday. The Lady Falcons are now tied with Ateneo de Manila University in fifth spot at 3-3.
Expect an exciting showdown between La Salle, which won last season, and NU, which ended a 65-year championship drought in 2022.
Despite losing several vital cogs from last year’s title run, the Lady Spikers have won five straight-set matches.
La Salle’s lone defeat came from the hands of UST, a five-set heartbreaker last 21 February.
After encountering a turbulent early season start, the Lady Bulldogs are showing their worth as title contenders as of late.
“NU stepped up right after its straight-sets loss to UST. I think because of that, they woke up and this is the reason why their game is improving each game. We have to prepare well and refrain from going back to their loss to UST,” said La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo.
“What we should figure out is the reason behind their rise,” he added.
The Lady Bulldogs know that the Lady Spikers remain as formidable as ever and that’s why coach Norman Miguel meticulously prepared for this most awaited match-up of the season.
“Since last week, we have been getting ready. While we went up against UE last Sunday, my program was also geared towards the next game.”
“We have skills training that are pointed towards the next,” Miguel added.
For former Most Valuable Player Bella Belen, everything boils down to what NU has done in the past week, scouting and watching its opponents’ tendencies.
“La Salle is a champion team. It won’t be easy playing them,” Belen said.
