Games Wednesday
(Mall of Asia Arena)
9 a.m. – UST vs UP (men’s)
11 a.m. – La Salle vs Adamson (men’s)
1 p.m. – UST vs UP (women’s)
3 p.m. La Salle vs Adamson (women’s)
By MARK REY MONTEJO
The race for the second twice-to-beat advantage in the women’s division further heats up on Wednesday, April 23, as La Salle and University of Santo Tomas shoot for their 9th wins in the UAAP Season 87 Volleyball Tournament at Mall of Asia Arena.
First to go for that crucial win that will bring them to the semis round are the Tigresses who will be up against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons at 1 p.m. in a duel both teams can’t afford to lose knowing full the well the importance of the match.
After UP, UST will face reigning titlist and early semifinalist National University on Saturday in a make or break showdown.
For UP, it likens its match with UST to a do-or-die affair as it also needs to hurdle its last two games – against the Shai Nitura-led Adamson on Saturday – to forge a playoff for the last semis berth.
The Fighting Maroons kept their flickering semis bid alive with an epic five-set win over the Lady Spikers just days before the Holy Week break to improve their mark to 6-6.
With an 11-2 mark, NU has already clinched the first semis bonus, leaving La Salle (8-4), UST (8-4), Far Eastern University (8-5) and even UP vying for the other semis berths, and more importantly, the second twice-to-beat bonus.
Like UST, La Salle needs to prevail in its 3 p.m. showdown with the dangerous Adamson.
Though Adamson is already out of it, La Salle still needs to give its level best if it is going to clinch a semis berth. Adamson, on the other hand, is eager to play it spoiler’s role once again, having beaten the Lady Tams the last time.
One thing going for UST is that it is on a roll, having won its last three games through the great efforts of Reg Jurado, Angge Poyos, Cassie Carballo and Detdet Pepito.
For UP, Joan Monares, Kianne Olango, and Kassandra Doering – who played superb in their previous outing – need to replicate their showing, so are Nina Ytang, Irah Jaboneta and playmaker Jaz Manguilimotan.
With skipper Angel Canino and Shevana Laput leading the charge, Alleiah Malaluan, Amie Provido, and Mikole Reyes, to name a few, are anticipated to provide ample support for the Lady Spikers.
Meanwhile in the men’s play, UST squares off with UP at 9 a.m., while La Salle meets Adamson at 11 a.m.
