WITH significant wins in the middle of the week, the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament Final Four cast is finally complete, with the same teams returning from the previous season.
Talk about mastering greatness and continuing to practice excellence, as the same teams entered the highly anticipated UAAP Final Four for the second year in a row, as determined on Wednesday.
Aside from the defending champions NU Lady Bulldogs (11-2), who have already secured the first twice-to-beat advantage, the rest of the Final Four casts are still competing for the second seed, which will provide the same advantage in the semifinals.
The DLSU Lady Spikers (9-4) are currently second in the standings, with the UST Golden Tigresses (9-4) and FEU Lady Tamaraws (8-5) trailing after winning the other tiebreaker circumstance.
Crucial Wednesday
With their Final Four aspirations on the line, the UP Fighting Maroons were dealt a reality check when last season’s finalist, the Golden Tigresses, delivered a dominant 25-20, 25-21, 25-18 win.
Despite the Fighting Maroons’ blossoming young squad, veteran experience played a significant role in UST’s victory, allowing their neighbors, the Lady Tamaraws, to capture fourth place.
Angge Poyos finished the game with 19 points from 18 attacks, nine excellent digs, and four excellent receptions. Regina Jurado provided support, scoring 13 points and making six superb digs.
For a brief period, the España-based squad was standing as the second seed. However, the Lady Archers rallied to defeat the Shaina Nitura-led Adamson Lady Falcons, 25-19, 21-25, 22-25, 25-18, and 15-4.
Super rookie Nitura, who has demonstrated offensive firepower all season, scored another 35 points but fell short of the combined efforts of Angel Canino, Shevana Laput, and Amie Provido.
Canino led the team with 22 points on 20 attacks, 23 good receptions, and two excellent digs; Laput scored 21 points on 16 attacks, three aces, and two blocks, with nine excellent receptions; and Provido added 14 points on 10 points and three attacks.
Final Weekend
Meanwhile, the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the UE Lady Warriors will begin hostilities for the final weekend of the elimination round on Saturday at 1:00PM, followed by a critical seeding encounter between DLSU and FEU at 3:00PM inside the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
On Sunday, at 1:00PM, UP and Adamson will compete for a win to cap off their respective impressive seasons, followed by the second ‘Battle of Sampaloc’ between NU and UST at 3:00PM.
