Games Wednesday:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
10 a.m. – Ateneo vs AdU (Men)
12 noon – NU vs FEU (Men)
2 p.m. – Ateneo vs AdU (Women)
4 p.m. – NU vs FEU (Women)

MANILA — Defending champions La Salle and University of Santo Tomas solidified their positions for a twice-to-beat advantage in the UAAP women’s volleyball Final Four, overcoming their opponents at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.

Playing with determination, the Lady Spikers demonstrated their dominance over longtime rivals Ateneo, clinching victory with scores of 25-12, 25-12, 25-18, extending their winning streak against the Blue Eagles to 14 matches.

Meanwhile, the Tigresses, led by rookie Ange Poyos’ stellar performance, overwhelmed University of the East with a convincing 25-19, 25-9, 25-17 triumph, maintaining their pursuit of a top-two finish in the eliminations.

The race for the coveted two twice-to-beat slots in the Final Four remains tight, with La Salle, UST, and National University all tied for first place with records of 11-2.

The upcoming showdown between the Lady Spikers and the Tigresses on Saturday promises to be intense, while the Lady Bulldogs will face Far Eastern University on Wednesday.

With a 9-4 record, the Lady Tamaraws secure the fourth rank in the Final Four and will face the top team from the elimination round.

“We’re in the mix with NU, La Salle, UST, so we’re really going to give it our all. We’re going to stand by who we truly are,” said coach Kungfu Reyes regarding the current team standings.

Thea Gagate showcased her dominance in the middle with six blocks and 10-of-14 kills, tallying 16 points for the Lady Spikers. Shevana Laput and Em Provido contributed significantly to the victory, with Laput recording three blocks for a 15-point performance, and Provido adding seven kills and seven digs to the scoreboard. Despite missing reigning MVP Angel Canino, the Lady Spikers maintained their composure.

“As long as we stick to our system, we’ll keep moving forward,” emphasized La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo.

Zel Tsunashima and Lyann de Guzman made notable contributions for the Blue Eagles, but their efforts fell short as they succumbed to a 4-9 record.

“In fact, they played exceptionally well today. Very polished, although there were some minor lapses in the third set, but in the first two sets, we saw exactly the kind of game we were expecting from them,” commented Orcullo.

Following a brief appearance in a previous match due to dehydration, Poyos returned to form, scoring 25 points, including 21-of-47 kills and three service aces, along with four receptions, leading the Tigresses to victory.

“I’m happy because I was able to come back at a hundred percent, and it’s a bounce-back win for us because we made a lot of mistakes against FEU. So, we reviewed and trained again. I’m thankful that we secured the win,” expressed Poyos.

The Lady Warriors became the first team this season to fail to reach double digits in a set, managing only nine points in the second set. Despite a strong start in the third set, UST regained control to seal a straight-set victory.

“Well, when the players execute cleanly, it’s easier for us to score points. If we just repeat what we’re doing, we keep winning points until we either pull ahead or catch up,” Reyes elaborated.

Regina Jurado contributed 11 points, including two aces, and seven digs, while setter Cassie Carballo delivered 17 excellent sets, and libero Det Pepito collected 13 digs and 11 receptions for the Tigresses.

(el Amigo/MNM)