Fighting Maroons in vital outing
UNIVERSITY of the Philippines plays University of Santo Tomas as it tries to keeps its hopes alive of entering the Final Four via the backdoor today as the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament resumes at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Having defeated three of last season’s semifinalists in the eliminations, the Fighting Maroons seek to hurdle the Tigresses in the 1 p.m. contest as they try to remain on course of seeking a playoff for the No. 4 spot.
With a 6-6 record, UP needs to sweep its last two matches, including its elims finale against Adamson on Sunday, and hope that either La Salle (8-4), UST (8-4) and Far Eastern University (8-5) won’t reach nine wins to stay on course for its first Final Four stint since 2016.
The Lady Spikers seek to rebound from a tough five-set loss to the Fighting Maroons before the Lenten break as they shoot for a 15th consecutive Final Four berth against the Lady Falcons at 3 p.m.
Defending champion National University, with a league-best 11-2 record, is the only team that has assured of a Final Four slot and a twice-to-beat advantage.
UP’s 26-24, 18-25, 19-25, 25-22, 16-14 victory over La Salle has given motivation for the Diliman-based side to beat another pre-tournament favorite. Prior to stunning the Lady Spikers, the Fighting Maroons have pulled off stunning reversals against the Lady Tamaraws and the Lady Bulldogs.
UP coach Benson Bocboc hopes that the long hiatus has boosted its preparation as well as to have the players’ bodies and minds well recovered.
“Hopefully pagbalik namin, mas matibay na after the break,” said Bocboc.
As the Tigresses were also able to reset during the Holy Week, coach Kungfu Reyes needs his team to produce another collective effort to foil the Fighting Maroons and complete the Final Four cast.
“Alam mo yung sakripisyo, siyempre iba pa rin talaga yung 100 percent ka na wala kang masyadong bitbit na masakit ang legs mo or something like that, pero ngayon, we’re getting better na naging na nakakapagpahinga ng maayos,” said Reyes.
Adamson, sporting a 5-7 card, may have missed the Final Four for a second straight season, but the San Marcelino-based squad is determined to go down swinging.
For coach JP Yude, the Lady Falcons’ Season 88 has already began with phenomenal rookie Shai Nitura determined to carry the team in the last two matches and close out its campaign on a high note.
“Siguro, I know na nandiyan na yan (Nitura) yung talent na ganyan na binigay sa kanya ng Panginoon. We are blessed, pero I just want na continue lang siya maging humble all the time,” said Yude.
“Kahit anuman marating niya sa buhay, anoman ang makuha niyang puntos man diyan o ma-break na record diyan — maging humble lang all the time and continue mag-lead sa mga kasama niya, kasi yan yung way ng Lord kung paano niya i-lead yung mga kasama niya. Kasi nga siya yung nagdo-dominate sa loob ng court and sa team,” he added.
Nitura, who has a record five 30-point outings this season, scored only 16 points in their first round loss to the Lady Spikers, her second lowest output in the tournament.
Meanwhile, UST takes on UP at 9 a.m., while La Salle goes up against Adamson at 11 a.m. Both the Golden Spikers and the Green Spikers, with similar 8-4 cards, have assured spots in the Final Four with their respective final elimination round rankings yet to be settled.
As UST braces for the Final Four, either against FEU (12-1) or NU (11-2), coach Odjie Mamon welcomed the Lenten hiatus to rejuvenate.
“Yung break, it will be an advantage for us. The players can recover. ‘yong mga may injuries can recover, and of course, ‘yong mental fatigue medyo ma-alleviate over the break,” said Mamon.
For La Salle, which is eyeing to enter the podium after back-to-back fourth place finishes, coach Jose Roque wanted his troops to deliver 100 percent effort in the last two matches before the Final Four.
“We’ll play hard talaga. Sabihin na namin na alam namin yung security namin in the Final Four, pero we’ll still take it seriously. Talagang gusto namin tapusin ng malakas yung second round.
Kung kaya namin i-sweep yung second round, I think magiging better preparation para sa amin ‘yon for the semifinals,” said Roque.
