THE TIME has come for the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers to seek atonement as they face the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
After a few weeks of anticipation, the Lady Spikers will have the opportunity to settle their unfinished business with the Golden Tigresses, who defeated them in the Final Four of UAAP Season 86.
Not to mention, a win for either club would allow them to tie with the UP Fighting Maroons with a 2-1 win-loss record and take second place with them. Making this match even more exciting than it already is.
Regaining Old Form
Both of these teams experienced early setbacks in their respective opening games. The defending champions NU Lady Bulldogs swept DLSU 3-0, while the FEU Lady Tamaraws defeated UST 3-1.
The Taft volleyball team, on the other hand, rebounded by dropping their own 3-0 sweep against the Adamson Lady Falcons, who are riding high after their five-set victory over Ateneo.
“Actually, maraming learnings po sa amin. Coming back from a game na talo, ang dami naming learnings na nakuha,” said Angel Canino after their game against the Lady Falcons.
“Ang dami naming realizations as a team and as individuals na nakatulong para ibalik namin yung sarili namin at yung kumpyansa na meron kami,” she went on to say, after finishing the game with 15 points.
Meanwhile, DLSU head coach Ramil de Jesus, who suffered his first-ever loss in an opening match since Season 75, claimed that the loss helped the team in figuring out how they should approach this season.
“Nung first game namin, kulang kami sa paniniwala sa sarili namin. Doon sa mga pinagdaanan namin nung game last Sunday, may mga natutunan yung mga bata na kailangang ma-overcome yung pressure,” he said.
Don’t Count Us Out
Despite multiple injuries, the España-based squad remains a formidable opponent. UST is also coming off a convincing 3-1 victory over the tenacious UE Lady Warriors.
“After nung talo namin sa FEU, talagang tinrabaho namin sa training,” said Poyos, who dropped a 21-point performance against UE, after suffering a dominating loss against FEU.
“Nung nakaraang week, talagang nag train kami. Thankful kami kasi ganto yung resulta, nawala yung composure namin pero thankful kasi naka balik kami,” she went on to say.
However, UST deputy Yani Fernandez stated that the squad still has a lot of work to do, especially when playing a team like DLSU.
“Well, a win is a win naman, pero nakita namin ‘yung mga lapses pa rin. Maraming lapses na kailangan i-polish para sa Wednesday, makaporma rin kami sa La Salle,” he said after their win on Saturday.
The DLSU Lady Spikers and UST Golden Tigresses will settle their business at 5:00 p.m., following the Adamson Lady Falcons and UE Lady Warriors game at 3:00 p.m., all at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
