The De La Salle University Lady Spikers quite literally have arch-rivals Ateneo Lady Eagles’ Final Four fate in their hands.
Comfortably settled at the top of the standings with an 11-2 record, La Salle can put the Lady Eagles, holding a 9-4 slate, in a precarious position depending on the result of their showdown on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
If La Salle wins, they can put their perennial rivals out of the top two and without a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.
However, the Lady Spikers are not looking at the implications of their match. They just see it as a another chance to improve.
“Well, yung ganoong scenario kasi, hindi ko na… although napag-uusapan namin, wala kaming ano.. Basta kami, dumating ‘yung game, maglalaro,” answered La Salle head coach Ramil De Jesus when asked about Ateneo’s record after the Lady Spikers clinched their twice-to-beat advantage against the Adamson Lady Falcons.
“So, kung no bearing or may bearing, basta importante, daanan namin ang second round na sana mas magandang record, win-loss. No loss in the second round.”
The Finals, in De Jesus’ eyes, are too far off to think about. Regardless if Ateneo makes the Finals again, the Lady Spikers are more focused on every individual step they need to take to get to the championship round.
“Well hindi ko na iniisip ‘yun (Ateneo or Finals). Siguro pinaka-goal namin, kami pumasok sa Finals,” the decorated tactician shared.
“Kung sino man ang kalaban namin, problema na nila ‘yun.
“Ako, kung sino man makaharap namin, basta kami, po-problemahin namin, pasok ng semis, yun muna ang pinaka-importante. So daanan muna namin ang semis bago ang Finals,” he closed.
