SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 volleyball tournament second round
MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Philippines didn’t only keep its Final Four chances alive after upsetting La Salle, but it also opened a lot of possibilities for the last three berths in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.
With defending champion National University the only team assured of a Final Four berth, three remaining semifinal spots—and the all-important twice-to-beat bonuses—are still up for grabs among La Salle, UST, FEU, and a resurgent UP squad.
Here are the scenarios of what is shaping up to be a thrilling Final Four chase with the last week of the elimination round
NU Lady Bulldogs on top
Bella Belen and the NU Lady Bulldogs in a game against La Salle Lady Spikers in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net
The NU Lady Bulldogs, still a picture of dominance despite showing their vulnerabilities, locked the top seed with an 11-2 record.
They recently lost to teams outside the Final Four picture against UP and Adamson, but those hardly dented their rise to No. 1 after sweeping the first round of elimination.
Rivals La Salle, UST neck and neck for UAAP Final Four bonus
La Salle Lady Spikers vs UST Tigresses in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net
La Salle and the UST, two teams that have developed a budding rivalry in women’s volleyball, are now locked in a chase for the coveted twice-to-beat advantage.
La Salle, which dropped to an 8-4 record after its loss to UP, is now tied with UST, which also holds an identical card.
To secure a semifinal berth, the Lady Spikers needs to win their remaining two games– against Adamson and fellow Final Four hopeful Far Eastern University.
UST, on the other hand, has a strong chance of claiming the twice-to-beat advantage for the second consecutive season if it wins its final two games. The Tigresses aim to eliminate UP on Wednesday, but they also need to overcome finals tormentor NU on April 27 to guarantee at least a playoff for the No. 2 seed.
UST can clinch the twice-to-beat advantage outright with a sweep of its last two games, combined with a La Salle loss.
UST, the last year’s runner-up, reached the finals in the past two seasons and held the twice-to-beat edge in 2019 and 2024, when the Tigresses dethroned La Salle.
If La Salle and UST finish with identical records, they will face off in a playoff for the twice-to-beat advantage before meeting each other again in the Final Four.
La Salle, meanwhile, also has a chance to secure the last twice-to-beat advantage outright if it sweeps the rest of its assignments and UST loses at least one of its games.
FEU’s outside chance at twice-to-beat
FEU’s Gerz Petallo during a victory over UST in UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
The FEU Lady Tamaraws are also now just a stone’s throw away from the semifinals with an 8-5 card built on a solid showing in the elimination round.
FEU needs to beat La Salle in its final elimination game on April 26 at Smart Araneta Coliseum to officially secure its return to the Final Four.
The twice-to-beat advantage remains a possibility, but it hinges on the outcomes of UST and La Salle’s remaining games.
FEU could also force at least a playoff for the No. 2 seed if one of UST or La Salle ends up with a 9-5 record and the other finishes at 8-6.
UP hanging on in UAAP Final Four race
UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.ne
Making a late run to the Final Four with a 6-6 record, the UP Fighting Maroons‘ chances may be hanging by thread but not an impossible dream.
One more loss will put UP out of contention. It needs to beat UST and Adamson in its last two games and hope for an 8-6 finish from La Salle, UST, or FEU to force a playoff for the No.4 seed.
With their backs against the wall, the Fighting Maroons prevented the Lady Spikers from completing the Final Four picture with a crucial 26-24, 18-25, 19-25, 25-22, 16-14 win to stay in the Final Four hunt on Sunday.
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The Fighting Maroons are raring to complete their series of upsets against contender teams when they the the Tigresses, who took them down in the first round.
UP stunned defending champion NU to avoid a stepladder format, overwhelmed FEU in the first round, and made La Salle its latest victim. It also took down Adamson in the first round, spoiling Shaina Nitura’s league record of 38 points.
