By MARK REY MONTEJO
Games Saturday
(Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City)
9 a.m. – UP vs UE (men’s)
11 a.m. – FEU vs La Salle (men’s)
1 p.m. – UP vs UE (women’s)
3 p.m. – FEU vs La Salle (women’s)
Time may heal wounds, but La Salle has not forgotten the sting of last season’s finals defeat or the lessons the Lady Spikers learned from it.
Driven to bounce back, the Lady Archers launch their redemption campaign against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws at the start of the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday, Feb. 14.
Match is set at 3 p.m., serving as the marquee matchup of the season-opening quadruple-header that also features the 1 p.m. duel between University of the Philippines and University of the East.
Despite the departure of several senior players, the Lady Spikers still have a solid core bannered by Shevana Laput, Lilay Del Castillo and Alas Pilipinas members Angel Canino and Amie Provido.
The foursome will be crucial for the Lady Archers as they navigate the post-Jules Tolentino, Baby Jyne Soreño and Alleiah Malaluan era.
“Yung mindset nila na lalaro kami kung ano yung pinag-training namin, yun ang gagawin, and maganda naman yung nakikita namin ni
coach Ramil (De Jesus) sa mga bata,” said La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo.
“Hopefully, mas maging maganda ‘yong performance nila, lalo na sa opener, kita naman namin ‘yong eagerness ng mga bata na makapag-
perform ng maayos,” he added.
La Salle has been quiet during off-season by not joining any invitational and preseason tournaments. Instead, they went to train overseas.
But the Taft-based squad is not taking FEU lightly knowing full well the Morayta-based squad is out to eclipse its previous Final Four finishes including last year.
Now without Jean Asis and Chenie Tagaod, the Tina Salak-mentored crew will rely on Gerz Petallo, Faida Bakanke, Cla Loresco, Lovely Lopez, and skipper Tin Ubaldo.
In the other pairing, UP hopes to give debuting coach Fabio Menta a fitting welcome against a retooled UE side.
Joan Monares, Irah Jaboneta, and Niña Ytang spearhead the Fighting Maroons’ bid to snap their Final Four drought, while Khy Cepada anchors the Lady Warriors’ drive to arrest the skid that hounded them last season.
In the men’s division, last year’s runner-up FEU squares off with La Salle at 11 a.m., while UP and UE open the day’s action at 9 a.m.
