Lady Bulldogs stake unbeaten slate vs Fighting Maroons

Games Saturday

(UST Quadricentennial Pavilion)

9 a.m. – UST vs UE (men)

11 a.m. – UST vs UE (women)

3 p.m. – NU vs UP (men)

5 p.m. – NU vs UP (women)

MANILA, Philippines — Undefeated champion National University tests the mettle of the revamped University of the Philippines, looking to regain solo leadership halfway through the first round of UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball Saturday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

After surviving a five-setter thriller against the Far Eastern University last week to preserve a clean slate (3-0), the Lady Bulldogs are in no business to fall into another flat start opposite the vengeful Fighting Maroons (2-1) in the main game at 5 p.m.

At 3 p.m., University of Santo Tomas (1-2) at home spikes for a second win against the cellar-dweller University of the East (0-3) as their men’s teams also tussle at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., respectively, of the four-game bill.

Back-to-back champion NU currently shares the pole position with rival La Salle, which dealt erstwhile unbeaten UP its first loss via sweep even without ace spiker Shevana Laput. The Lady Bulldogs, on the other hand, pulled off a reverse sweep on the Lady Tamaraws, 17-25, 16-25, 25-19, 25-21, 15-12.

But as much as her charges showcased resolve and championship pedigree once again, coach Regine Diego warns against complacency and the need for respect against any opponent.

“I always remind them na kailangan talaga nating respetuhin ‘yung mga kalaban,” said coach Regine Diego, whose wards needed to claw back from two sets down to escape FEU, 17-25, 16-25, 25-19, 25-21, 15-12.

“Hindi pwedeng laro-laro lang, kalma-kalma lang o relax-relax lang. Lahat ng teams sa UAAP ay competitive so kailangan naming mag-pursige at ibigay ‘yung best namin every game.”

Against UP — under the wings of veteran Italian mentor Fabio Menta — that’s out to avenge its lone defeat so far to La Salle, 25-12, 25-15, 25-19, NU indeed would need everything it could handle to go 4-0.

“Dapat po sa simula pa lang, ibigay na namin lahat. Kailangan iwasan namin na magkaroon ng slow start,” said Arah Panique, who took the cudgels from captain Vange Alinsug and super rookie Sam Cantada in firing a career-best 27 points against FEU.

Standing in the Lady Bulldogs’ way are former high school sensation from UE Casiey Dongallo, veteran middle blocker Niña Ytang, seasoned spiker Irah Jaboneta, Kianne Olango, and Nigerian rookie ace Fina Ali for the troops of Menta.

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