University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines and Far Eastern University go for crucial wins to boost their respective Final Four bids today (Saturday) in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Tigresses play University of the East at 2 p.m., while the Lady Maroons and the Lady Tamaraws collide in the day’s other match at 4 p.m.
UST, UP and FEU are not only seeking victories to stay within the top four range but to also stay within reach of defending champion De La Salle. Locked in a three-way tie at 6-4, the Tigresses, the Lady Maroons and the Lady Tamaraws are trailing the second-running Lady Spikers (7-3) by just a game in the race for the second twice-to-beat slot in the Final Four.
“All games are must-win games. That’s the only thing I’ll say,” said UP coach Godfrey Okumu. “As a coach even if we make it to the Final Four, which I believe we have very high chances of being in the Final Four, I would not want to lose anymore,” he added.
UST’s two second-round losses came against the league’s top two teams — Ateneo and De La Salle.
Ranged against a hard-luck Lady Warriors’ side that could not get the needed breaks especially in five-set matches, the Tigresses hope to deliver the killer instinct to get back on the winning track.
Whether Isa Molde will return against FEU after sitting out in UP’s narrow 25-23, 20-25, 25-23, 24-26, 15-11 victory over UE last Wednesday remains to be seen.
“It depends. We still have another three or four days. Hopefully she (Molde) will maybe dress up and come in, maybe as a sub. We don’t know but we’re hoping against hope that she’ll be able to play,” said Okumu.
Molde suffered an ankle sprain in the Lady Maroons’ 23-25, 16-25, 23-25 loss to the Lady Eagles last Sunday.
The Lady Tamaraws have sorely missed rookie Lycha Ebon in the last two matches, as coach George Pascua hopes to bring the consistency from his veterans.
FEU suffered a sound 21-25, 10-25, 18-25 beating from the hands of Ateneo last Wednesday, with no one scoring in twin digits.
“We’re really disappointed with the way we played today but like coach (George Pascua) said after each game we should learn from it and move on to the next game,” said skipper captain Jerrili Malabanan, who was the Lady Tamaraws’ top scorer the last time out with eight points.
The chase for the remaining three Final Four slots in the men’s division heats up, as Ateneo takes on also-ran UP at 10 a.m., while Adamson University plays UST at 8 a.m.