MANILA, Philippines — UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas hopes to hurdle yet another team it has yet to beat in UAAP Season 88 collegiate women’s volleyball as it takes on defending two-time champion and No. 2 seed National University in a do-or-die clash for the last Finals berth on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Playing in their third consecutive knockout match, the Tigresses head into the 3 p.m. showdown against the Lady Bulldogs brimming with confidence after surviving back-to-back elimination games.
The winner will advance to face unbeaten De La Salle in the best-of-three championship series starting Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
After squandering a two-set lead in their final elimination round loss to NU, UST regrouped by eliminating Far Eastern University in the playoff for No. 4 before abruptly ending Adamson University’s Final Four hopes in the stepladder quarterfinals.
Just like the Lady Falcons, who they defeated after an 0-2 elimination round record, the Tigresses were swept by the Lady Bulldogs in the regular season and are now aiming to replicate their recent breakthrough momentum.
“I think mas kailangan namin mag-effort. Triplehin kung ano ang ginawa namin sa Adamson kasi siyempre, knowing NU, alam naman natin na lagi silang palaban. Yung last game namin [against NU], sobrang happy ako dahil konti na lang ’eh. I think puwede namang magbago yung result no'n. Pipilitin natin,” UST coach Shaq delos Santos said.
The Tigresses are looking to address their lapses from the elimination round finale, where the Lady Bulldogs staged a reverse sweep, 19-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-18, 15-13, to secure the coveted bye in the stepladder phase.
“Magiging honest ako at siyempre, pipilitin nating manalo kasi sobrang importante yung game na ’yon. I think magandang recovery lang ulit, at review yung galawan namin nung last game. Ipo-polish ulit namin kung ano ang kailangan at magfo-focus kami sa strength namin, especially,” Delos Santos added.
Reg Jurado is determined to finally break through against another team UST failed to beat in the eliminations, with the opposite spiker teaming up with Angge Poyos to deliver in the crucial stretch.
“Actually, na-realize namin na lahat ng talo namin from eliminations ay from the upper teams na ranked. Kung paano namin in-approach itong Adamson game, kung paano namin pinaghugutan those losses from the eliminations, ganon din namin papasukan yung mga susunod na games,” Jurado said.
A victory would send the Tigresses back to the Finals for the second time in three seasons, and set up their first championship duel with La Salle since the Season 71 (2011) title rematch.
On the other side, NU coach Regine Diego was relieved to avoid the first stepladder phase. However, with UST gaining momentum, the Lady Bulldogs cannot afford any slip-ups as they try to keep the crown in Jhocson.
“We have to prepare not just physically, but mentally. Hopefully pantay pantay lahat ng kundisyon during that time kasi nandyan pa rin yung advantage No.2 pa rin kami because we still have time to perfect and ayusin yung mga mistakes namin and hopefully makuha yung wins in the future,” Diego said.
With Bella Belen no longer in the lineup, Vange Alinsug has stepped up as NU’s new leader and remains confident about their chances of reaching a fifth consecutive Finals appearance.
“Kami naman, lagi lang kaming optimistic talaga. Kasi siyempre, alam namin na mabibigat na din talaga yung kalaban namin. So kami, balik lang talaga kami sa disiplina at kung gaano rin namin kagusto. Magsisimula rin ’yon sa ensayo,” Alinsug said.
Rookie Sam Cantada, meanwhile, will face a major test in handling the pressure of a high-stakes semifinal where NU’s title defense hangs in the balance.
NU is also eyeing a fourth Finals showdown with La Salle in the last five seasons. TMT
