THE UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament Final Four starts this afternoon at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, and it’s time to find out who will leave with a ticket to the Finals or nothing at all.
With a twice-to-beat advantage, the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs and De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers look to finish the job as quickly as possible against lower-seeded opponents today (Saturday).
The top-ranked Lady Bulldogs will face No. 4 Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws, hoping to avoid a meltdown like last year’s first-game loss to the Lady Tams before winning the decider to progress.
Meanwhile, the tables have turned in the Golden Tigresses’ matchup with La Salle, as UST now faces a twice-to-beat disadvantage this season after falling to the Taft-based side in last Wednesday’s playoff for No. 2.
Gritty Afternoon
Despite having an advantage, reigning MVP and fan favorite Bella Belen understands that things will not be easy for NU, especially against a FEU group that has demonstrated its ability to beat major teams.
The FEU squad kept it close against NU in their first meeting, and they recently stunned the Lady Spikers in their elimination round finale to earn much-needed confidence before facing the Lady Bulldogs.
“Alam naman namin na hindi siya magiging madali talaga, lalo na lahat… ‘yung apat na iyon may chance na maging champion,” team captain Belen said after their game against UST last Sunday.
“And marami pang kailangan pagtrabahuhan ‘yung team, ngayon po may scouting… ganyan… so kailangan mag-adjust kung sino man ‘yung kalaban namin,” Belen went on to say.
Photo Courtesy: UAAP Media Group
In order to make a name for themselves in the Final Four for the second consecutive season, FEU is working twice as hard as they can to perfect their preparations and thoroughly study their opponents’ habits.
The Lady Tamaraws, as the top blocking team in the elimination round, feel confident in their ability to weather the Lady Bulldogs, the league’s finest offensive squad as well as the best in digging and setting.
“Ending natin, yung games namin ng elimination, maganda naman yung naging lesson ng elimination round sa amin. Maganda rin baunin yung experiences and also yung mga lessons sa elimination,” said FEU head coach Tina Salak.
“More, for me, yung focus namin, yung block and defense namin. More on talaga sa technical and tactical yung gagamitin namin ngayon na iiimprove namin,” she added.
Rivalry Extended
For DLSU, the triumph last Wednesday served as a statement that it was able to overcome all of its second-round troubles, including a late elimination round loss to the UP Fighting Maroons.
Despite some shockers, these losses made them realize how vital it was for them to control their own destiny this season and fight harder in every game to achieve their ultimate goal.
“Yung past two losses namin, ayun nga yung sinasabi namin sa kanila na ito nangyari yan, ito ngayon dumaan tayo sa playoff, kung tayo ang papalarin destiny natin ito,” De La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo said.
“Kailangan lang panghawakan natin kung ano yung dapat nating gawin na kailangan nating manalo, gustuhin natin so siguro, sabi ko nga, sabi nga namin, nasasainyo yan kung pano nyo dadalhin yung team kung saan,” he added.
Photo Courtesy: UAAP Media Group
Meanwhile, all eyes are on the Golden Tigresses and how they intend to respond to their loss to the Lady Spikers, which cost them the Final Four bonus, as they need to win twice to advance to the Finals.
“May kasamang gigil… ‘yung di pa nagstart alam na mananalo kami, kumbaga talunin namin sa ano… mindset pa lang alam na namin na kaya namin talunin,” UST head coach Kungfu Reyes said.
“Those things bitbit na yon, kasama ng lahat hardwork, kasama ng lahat ng sacrifices, ibinigay namin. Especially, ‘yung mga player na ito ayun ‘yung bibitbitin namin para sa Thomasian community na nagtitiwala, regardless kung ano yung lineup namin.”
“Humina man lineup namin, o lumakas man lineup namin. Talagang ilalaban namin ang UST hanggang dulo. Kami ang pipiliin lagi,” the veteran UAAP tactician added.
The first game between the NU Lady Bulldogs and the FEU Lady Tamaraws will begin at 2:00 p.m., followed by the highly anticipated new era rivalry between the DLSU Lady Spikers and the UST Golden Tigresses at 6:00 p.m.
