Lady Tamaraws, Golden Tigresses try to stay in Top Four

Volleyball stock photo.

via Unsplash

Games Saturday

(Mall of Asia Arena)

9 a.m. – Ateneo vs UE (men)

11 a.m. – FEU vs UST (men)

1 P.M. – Ateneo vs UE (women)

3 P.M. – FEU vs UST (women)

MANILA, Philippines — Old rivals Far Eastern University and University of Santo Tomas tussle in a crucial match-up to stay in the Top Four as the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball hits the homestretch of the pace-setting round Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Action erupts at 3 p.m. for the main bill of the quadruple-header that also features winless Ateneo (0-6) and University of the East (0-6) at 1 p.m. In men’s play, FEU (6-0) guns for a first-round sweep against UST (5-1) at 11 a.m. after the battle of Ateneo (2-4) and UE (1-5) at 9 a.m.

The Lady Tamaraws sit at solo third place with a 4-2 slate, while the Golden Tigresses are gridlocked with Adamson and University of the Philippines, making it a must-win game for both to stay within striking distance from the league leaders.

La Salle, last year’s runner-up, is unbeaten so far at 6-0, while reigning champion National University (5-1) is not far behind ahead of their rematch Sunday at the same venue for the league leadership entering the key second phase.

But it’s FEU versus UST for now, especially after the Lady Tamaraws clobbered the vastly improved UP Fighting Maroons, 25-13, 25-21, 25-16, to get ahead in the Top Four positioning.

“Itutuloy lang namin ‘yung ganitong momentum. Kailangan lang naman ipagpatuloy kung gaano kami ka-passionate pagdating sa games and ‘yung goal naman namin, hindi natatapos sa first round. Tuloy pa rin hanggang second round,” coach Tina Salak of the Lady Tamaraws, whose two losses came against the mighty NU and La Salle.

UST also beat the free-falling UP, which had an unbeaten start, to slightly right its shaky ship after losing three of its first five games entering another litmus test against FEU.

“Well, yung tapang, bumalik na, pero siyempre, hindi pa dapat kami magpakampante doon sa performance nila. Still, merong kailangan trabahuhin,” said returning mentor Shaq delos Santos, who towed UST to its last UAAP title in 2010.

The Golden Tigresses folded to Shaina Nitura and the Lady Falcons last week, 27-25, 25-22, 25-12, before venting their tire on the Fighting Maroons,16-25, 25-13, 25-19, 25-20, for a three-way tie at 3-3.