Defending champion National University and De La Salle University are out to set up a championship showdown when they take on separate rivals in the Final Four of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 women’s basketball tournament today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The top seed and twice-to-beat Lady Bulldogs get the first try to advance to their eighth straight Finals appearance at 9 a.m. against No. 4 Ateneo de Manila University.
Second seed Lady Archers, meanwhile, square off with third ranked University of Santo Tomas at 11 a.m.
NU finished the elimination round with a 13-1 record for its first taste of Final Four action since 2013 after marching into the championship round outright for the past six seasons.
The seven-peat-seeking squad crushed Adamson University, 101-55, last Saturday to end the elims on a high note following a shocking overtime loss to La Salle last week that snapped its 108-game winning streak.
Lady Bulldogs head coach Aris Dimaunahan sees an explosive match against the Blue Eagles.
“It will be an interesting matchup with their two big guys, with their import, and Kacey de la Rosa plus their guards (Jhazmin) Joson and (Junize) Calago. Not to leave on the table si (LJ) Miranda),” he said.
Dimaunahan pins his hopes on Carl Pingol, Tin Cayabyab, Camille Clarin and Princess Fabruada to once again stamp their class over a rival that has been on the receiving end of NU’s domination for a long time.
The Lady Archers, on the other hand, want to return to the Finals for the first time since their last title dance in 2016 where they fell victim to the steaming Lady Bulldogs train.
However, La Salle is expected to face tough opposition from Season 82 runner-up UST.
The two squads split their elims head-to-head with the Tigresses winning their first meeting, 71-57, before the Lady Archers returned the favor, 67-60, in the second round.
Lee Sario, Fina Niantcho Tchuido, Joehanna Arciga and Charmie Torres will spearhead La Salle’s charge against the UST crew of Rocel Dioniso, Eka Soriano, Tacky Tacatac and Agatha Bron.
