Lady Spikers begin UAAP ‘revenge tour’

Games Saturday

(Mall of Asia Arena)

9 a.m. — UP vs UE (men)

11 a.m. — UP vs UE (women)

1 P.M. — FEU vs DLSU (men)

3 P.M. — FEU vs DLSU (women)

MANILA, Philippines — There will be no love on the Taraflex as La Salle kickstarts its redemption tour against the formidable Far Eastern University to open the much-awaited UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Game time is at 3 p.m. for the main event of the quadruple-header opener in celebration of Valentine’s Day, rolling the red carpet for the beginning of National University’s three-peat bid against University of Santo Tomas Sunday at the same venue.

Before the Lady Spikers-Lady Tamaraws duel, rejigged squads UP and UE take centercourt at 11 a.m. to parade new coaches Fabio Menta of Italy and Jumbo Dimaculangan, respectively.

All eyes are on La Salle, seen as the closest pursuer to NU’s reign after finishing runner-up twice in their three finals encounters in the past four seasons.

And the Lady Spikers can count on Angel Canino’s lead for that revenge tour especially now as the heavy favorite to win the Season MVP once again after the graduation of her fierce rival Bella Belen of NU.

“Sobrang eager po kami ngayon. Heartbreak over heartbreak po talaga kami so kakaiba ‘yung feeling namin ngayon kasi muntikan na namin makuha ‘yung championship last year,” vowed the Season 85 Rookie-MVP, teaming up with Shevana Laput in a bid to bring back the crown to Taft.

The charges or coach Ramil de Jesus last year finished second to NU in the elims, made short work of Santo Tomas in the Final Four before bowing to the Lady Bulldogs once again in the finale via sweep.

But while NU lost four of its Super Six in Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Sheena Toring and Erin Pangilinan, the Lady Spikers believe they could only achieve the tough task by taking care of themselves and not the opponents who are all capable now to win the cup in a wide-open race.

That starts with the steady wards of FEU coach Tina Salak, who finished third last season.

“Mas nag-effort kaming maghanda ngayon kung saan kami nagkulang last season,” added Canino.

Meanwhile, FEU will also be out for a strong start to its redemption tour against La Salle at 1 p.m. in the men’s side after nearly toppling the NU dynasty last season.

The Tamaraws in Season 87 handed then four-peat champion Bulldogs their first finals defeat in a decade to drag the title showdown in three games only to fall short as the latter completed a five-peat to become the first team to do so in the Final Four era.