DE LA SALLE clashes with third-ranked National University (NU) as it seeks a seventh consecutive Finals appearance in the step-ladder semifinals of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 77 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Toting a twice-to-beat bonus for finishing second in the double-round eliminations, the Lady Spikers need only to prevail in their 4 p.m. showdown against the Lady Bulldogs to advance to the championship round where unbeaten defending champion Ateneo is waiting.
Titleholder NU and Ateneo, meanwhile, open their best-of-three men’s championship series, a rematch of last season’s finals, at 2 p.m. The Bulldogs are vying for their third straight crown, while the Blue Eagles are gunning for their first title since joining the league in 1978.
De La Salle is playing for the first time in two weeks after dropping a 20-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-27 decision against Ateneo on February 18, giving the Katipunan-based spikers an outright passage to the Finals with a thrice-to-beat advantage.
Unlike last season where they jumped straight to the title round—but bowed to the Lady Eagles in four games—the Lady Spikers this time will try to make it to the championship series the hard way. De La Salle is expected to have a hard time against an NU side playing with a lot of fire and energy under Coach Roger Gorayeb. Jaja Santiago, Myla Pablo and Jorelle Singh, who combined for 61 points when they eliminated the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 25-13, 25-17, 25-27, 25-23, in the first phase of the step-ladder semifinals last Saturday, are expected to provide big numbers against the Lady Spikers’ veteran trio of Ara Galang, Mika Reyes and Cyd Demecillo. Finally embracing Gorayeb’s system, NU went 7-3 since the multititled coach took over in January. Gorayeb knows that even though Lady Bulldogs are at a disadvantage against the Lady Spikers, they could do the improbable possible.
“Paghahandaan natin ‘yan, malakas na team ‘yan. ‘Yung spirit nila, sanay sila sa mga ganitong laban. Tignan na lang natin kung ano ang mangyayari. Sana mapunta sa amin ang mga break against La Salle,” Gorayeb said.
Image credits: Kevin dela Cruz