DEFENDING Champion De La Salle seeks vengeance against University of the Philippines (UP) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
The Lady Spikers would be avoiding a repeat of their 22-25, 21-25, 19-25 defeat to the Lady Maroons when they take the floor at 4 p.m.
That loss was the first for De La Salle to UP in nine seasons or 16 matches.
De La Salle Head Coach Ramil de Jesus said his wards would be more careful this time and avoid being aggressive or complacent against UP, which snapped out of a four-game skid with a 25-14, 18-25, 25-15, 25-10 win over seventh-ranked University of the East last Wednesday.
“You cannot be complacent against UP even if they are struggling. They are still capable of beating us and it was evident in the first round,” de Jesus said. “We have to find a way to beat them because our target is to secure the first or second spot [in the Final Four], so when we make it to the semifinals, we have a twice-to-beat advantage.”
National pool members Kim Fajardo, Kianna Dy and Dawn Macandili and the league’s reigning Best Blocker Majoy Baron will lead the Lady Spikers, who are running second with a 7-2 win-loss card.
The Lady Archers have beaten Far Eastern University and National University (NU) to kick off their second-round campaign.
The Lady Maroons have improved to 5-4 after that victory over the Lady Warriors last week.
Season 78 Rookie of the Year Isa Molde, sophomore Diana Carlos, fifth year players Kathy Bersola and Nicole Tiamzon and setter Arielle Estrañero will be at the forefront of UP’s assault.
“We just have to remember how we beat them in the first round. We really need to enjoy every point and if ever we commit mistakes, we should recover right away,” Molde said.
NU (5-4), meanwhile, tries to regain its winning form against University of the East (1-8) at 2 p.m.
The Lady Bulldogs will try to bounce back from their 21-25, 11-25, 25-15, 12-25 lost to the Lady Spikers last week.
National University (8-1) guns the second semifinals berth when it faces struggling third placer FEU (5-4) at 10 a.m.—after the 8 a.m. clash between De La Salle (3-6) and Adamson University (2-7)—in the men’s competition.