FAR Eastern University eyes solo second place as it plays University of the East today in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

The Red Warriors are at 0-8, but Lady Tamaraws coach Tina Salak is simply at awe that the Recto-based spikers just kept on pushing despite being at the bottom of the standings.

“Alam mo, nakakainspire ang UE even though 11-woman roster lang sila. Nakakainspire sila, I want to play with them na gusto ko nandoon din ako sa position kasi iba yung pride. For us, dito sa level namin, kumpleto kami with no excuse na para anuhin pa yung result ng game. There’s no excuse na matalo or manalo, but kailangan namin i-execute kung ano yung game plan,” said Salak.

“But with UE kasi, big respect to UE, despite winless, grabe yung pinakita nila every game. Nakakainspire silang kalaban. Sa game plan namin, it’s more of continuing kung ano yung gusto namin marating this second round. Second round muna, huwag muna tayo pumasok ng Final Four. Isa-isa lang,” she added.

Eyeing a return trip to the Final Four, the Lady Tamaraws are training their eyes first on the Lady Warriors at 5 p.m.

FEU is currently locked in a three-way tie with La Salle and University of Santo Tomas from second to fourth spots at 5-3.

Defending champion National University seeks to extend its perfect run to nine matches against University of the Philippines at 11 a.m.

Sporting a 3-5 record, the Fighting Maroons are two games out of the No. 4 spot. UP is currently tied with Adamson and Ateneo from fifth to seventh place.

Keeping an unbeaten record is a tough task, but coach Sherwin Meneses, a seven-time PVL champion, is working hard to polish his tried and tested system with the Lady Bulldogs.

“Siyempre, mahirap pero yan yung trabaho natin eh. Kung paano mo ihahandle nalang din yung situation din, hindi lang sa volleyball, sa iba pang bagay. Actually, yung paghandle naman sa Creamline talagang nandiyan na yan eh. Senior team na sila so– yung NU naman, senior din yan so madaling nang hawakan,” said Meneses.

“Composure lang, sabi ko nga sa kanila, yung composure kada situation dapat lagi kang nandoon. Sana, huwag naman magkasunod sa susunod. Thankful siyempre nakaka-panalo kami. Laging nanjan yung mga players talagang binibigay nila yung 100% nila kasi sila naman talaga yung naglalaro,” he added.

The Fighting Maroons suffered major blow to keep within the Final Four range after a tough 25-15, 23-25, 25-27, 32-30, 14-16 loss to the Blue Eagles last Saturday.

UP could have been one game behind the fourth spot with a victory, but instead, coach Benson Bocboc’s side will start to play catch-up from now on to remain in contention.

Men’s leader FEU, meanwhile, shoots for a ninth straight victory against UE at 3 p.m.

Coach Eddieson Orcullo and his Tamaraws know that the Red Warriors will continue to march on despite their eight-game losing spell.

“Sa UAAP kasi hindi mo pwede sabihin yan na zero wins yung kabila. Alam mo ‘yon, medyo ang kailangan talaga ay dapat hindi kami tumigil sa gusto namin mangyari kasi hindi pa natatapos yung season. Hangga’t hindi pa natatapos yung season, walang magpapahinga sa pagtatrabaho,” said Orcullo.

Five-peat seeking NU tries to get back on the winning track as it tangles with UP at 9 a.m.

The Bulldogs sit in solo second at 6-2. NU was coming off a shock 22-25, 27-25, 21-25, 17-25 loss to La Salle last Sunday.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Theodore P. Jurado