With the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball Final Four cast complete, all eyes will be on the clash between University of Santo Tomas and National University on Wednesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
De La Salle University is assured of the first twice-to-beat edge but the second incentive is still available. That will be decided between UST (9-3), NU (9-3), and Adamson University (9-4).
That huge twice-to-beat advantage makes the Golden Tigresses-Lady Bulldogs battle all the more anticipated, especially with the background of their head-to-head matchup this season.
It was UST that broke NU’s 20-game winning streak in just the third match of the latter in the season, a five-set 25-23, 27-25, 17-25, 22-25, 15-11 win.
“Yung game namin on the 26th, parehas kami ni National University na gusto manalo of course,” said Golden Tigresses head coach Kungfu Reyes. “Nandito na kami sa Top Four pero meron pang ranking so si NU, si UST may chance na kung sino manalo doon ang laki ng chance na kami ang kukuha ng number two spot.
“Yun naman talaga ang ini-aim namin. Nandito na kami sa Top Four so we aim higher. Target namin Top Two.”
Defeating NU for the second time this season would be a tall task though as the payback-seeking Lady Bulldogs have been seeing their performance go back to their championship form slowly but surely.
But for Reyes, it’s not about repeating over the defending champions, it’s not about making a statement. It’s about playing the sport of volleyball the right way. That would be their mindset.
“We will play volleyball, we will not play the occasion kasi otherwise, baka ma-overwhelm lang kami, ma-hype lang ulit,” said Reyes.
In UST’s four-set win over Far Eastern University on Saturday, the Golden Tigresses flexed their deep arsenal as eight scored of the 10 non-libero players fielded.
Eya Laure was the lead woman with 28 points while Imee Hernandez added 19 points. Milena Alessandrini, Regina Jurado, and Jonna Perdido made seven points apiece. Meanwhile, Janna Torres (six points), Renren Peñafiel (five), and Cassie Carballo (four) also entered the scoring column.
That across-the-board performance by the Tigresses, according to Laure, would be a key factor that needs to click when they face NU.
“Syempre yung confidence namin na meron kami ngayon na kung sino man ang tumapak sa court magpeperform, gagalaw, magtatrabaho,” said the Season 81 Rookie of the Year.
“Yun siguro yung pinakaimportante na once na pinasok ka, once na nandoon ka na, kailangan prepared ka and sa bawat game sa NU lalo na, NU yan defending champions pa rin yan and nandiyan yung mentality nila na hindi sila magpapatalo, na gagawin nila yung best nila syempre sa amin din, paghahandaan ulit namin yun sa mga susunod na mga araw.“
All business would be libero Bernadett Pepito as well as she has a face-to-face battle again with NU heavy hitters in reigning MVP Mhicaela Belen, opposite spiker Alyssa Solomon, and rookie Vange Alinsug.
Against the Lady Tamaraws, Pepito was outstanding with 21 digs and 19 excellent receptions.
“Talagang mas magpeprepare kami starting tomorrow sa training. Wala na dapat time magrelax,” said Pepito.
