Undeafeated squads National University, University of Santo Tomas, Adamson and Far Eastern University figure in gigantic showdowns to fire off the Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-Season Championship Season 2 playoffs Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
Action sizzles at 5 p.m. with the Lady Bulldogs and Golden Tigresses eyeing a flying start in a newly-formed Group E after topping their respective pools with no scars to show.
Fellow unbeaten teams Adamson and FEU lock horns in Pool F at 11 a.m. as Ateneo and Arellano clash in Pool E at 2 p.m.
Other squads University of the East and College of St. Benilde in Pool F complete the eight-team playoffs that will have carryover standings from the preliminary rounds.
But all eyes are on the Lady Bulldogs as the reigning champions looking for a deep playoff run anew to ignite a dynasty in the SSL backed by Mikasa, Eurotel, Victory Liner, Summit Bottle Water, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, R and B Milk Tea, Potato Corner, Rebel Sports, Converge ICT Solutions, Genius Sports and United Auctioneers, Inc.
“Hindi kami puwedeng maging complacent. Hindi kami pwedeng mag-relax going into the playoffs. Mas competitive na dito at pataas nang pataas ‘yung level. Iyon ang laging mindset namin,” said NU mentor Norman Miguel.
The Lady Bulldogs rolled past UE, San Sebastian College-Recoletos and Jose Rizal U in Pool A of the prelims but will be ranged against an equally formidable Golden Tigresses, who also swept University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, Letran and CSB in Pool C.
“Ang kailangan namin ‘yung consistency ng laro namin. ‘Yun naman ang pinakaimportante. Mas magandang bakbakan na sa playoffs. Mas mataas ‘yung level. Kailangan lang namin i-level up pa ‘yung performance namin,” said coach Kungfu Reyes.
Like NU and UST, only one team will retain an unblemished slate in another fiery battle between Adamson and FEU.
The Lady Falcons, who finished runner-up in the SSL National Invitationals and third in SSL Season 1, wiped out Pool B’s San Beda, Arellano and Lyceum as the Lady Tamaraws romped past Ateneo, Emilio Aguinaldo College and Mapua in Pool D.
Ateneo and Arellano are no pushover either in an anticipated tough duel after finishing second with similar 2-1 slates in the prelims of SSL Season 2 in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education and the Philippine Sports Commission.
All games will be accessible across all platforms live and on-demand through the social media pages of Plus Network and SSL with Solar Sports, Blast TV and Aliw Channel 23 as TV partners.