DEFENDING champion La Salle and National University try to keep within distance of unbeaten University of Santo Tomas as they play separate foes today in the UAAP women’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Lady Spikers eye for a second straight win as they take on a University of the East side still missing suspended coach Jerry Yee at 2 p.m.

Slowly getting into the groove after a season-opening defeat to the Tigresses, the Lady Bulldogs try to extend their winning streak to four matches against Far Eastern University in the 4 p.m. mainer.

La Salle and NU are in joint second with a 3-1 record behind UST, which has a perfect 4-0 card.

The Lady Spikers are wary of the upstart Lady Warriors, who have showing fight despite a 1-3 slate.

“Very promising din ang team na iyon dahil most of them siguro magkakasama na noong high school at tsaka kilalang kilala nilaa ang bawat isa. So hindi puwedeng balewalain ang team na iyon,” said La Salle coach Ramil de Jesus.

“Kung ano ang respeto na ibinigay mo sa Ateneo, UST, ganoon din sa kanila. Kailangan mo silang paghandaan,” the 12-time UAAP champion mentor added.

The Lady Spikers are coming off a 25-12, 25-22, 25-19 sweep of the Blue Eagles last Saturday, a big bounce win from a five-set defeat to the Tigresses.

La Salle leads the league in blocking and attacking, while it ranks No. 2 in the serving and receiving department.

Looking bothered by the sanction slapped by Yee, UE dropped a 19-25, 19-25, 28-26, 27-29 decision to Adamson last Sunday.

Obet Vital, who is tasked to handle the Lady Warriors for the meantime while they are appealing Yee’s suspension, vowed that the team will march on against the Lady Spikers despite all the distractions.

“I can’t ask for anything more than the best for the girls and for them to do their best, right? I wish them the best and I want them do their best,” said Vital.

“UAAP teams are very very tough. The league itself is tough. You got the best of the best in the Philippines. So, every single match is gonna be a battle. La Salle, of course, with the height, with their skills, they will gonna be very tough,” he added.

“All I can ask for the girls is to do their very best. To play against the taller blockers, they know what to do, go around the blockers, play faster, use the block and I’m sure, they know that. That is not a secret. That’s we are gonna trying to do and with more spirit pa. Hoping that coach Jerry is back come Wednesday.”

In men’s action, FEU puts its perfect record on the line against titleholder NU at 12 noon, right after La Salle and UE take the floor at 10 a.m.