MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
The elimination round of Season 87 of the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament resumes on Wednesday with all the teams recharged after a physical and spiritual break.
And rightly so, with the stakes so high.
La Salle and University of Santo Tomas go up against separate foes, looking for victories that would hasten the completion of the Final Four cast while also firming up their respective drives for the last twice-to-beat privilege and follow defending champion National U there.
The Lady Spikers battle Adamson and its super rookie Shai Nitura in the 3 p.m. game at Mall of Asia Arena, which follows the Santo Tomas–UP clash at 1 o’ clock as both try to stay tied for No. 2 until the elimination round winds up this weekend.
“It’s different when you’re 100 percent and you don’t have to pain in your legs or anything like that,” Santo Tomas coach KungFu Reyes said in Filipino, relishing the Holy Week break his wards needed so much. “We’re getting better because we’ve been able to rest properly.”
The scenario is simple enough for the Growling Tigresses and the Lady Spikers: win and they are safely in the next round, and they stay alive in the hunt for a top two finish.
A win is also what the Fighting Maroons need, for a loss would keep them out of semifinal action for yet another season.
Needing sweeps
After Wednesday, La Salle closes out against Far Eastern on Saturday, while the Tigresses take another shot at the Lady Bulldogs the day after. If they both sweep their last two assignments, a playoff for No. 2 will take place.
National is unreachable at No. 1 with an 11-2 record, and the only thing the Bulldogs want heading into the Final Four is to be able to carry a winning feeling after their clash with the Tigresses.
Adamson is out of the running, and the Lady Falcons seem to be preparing for the next season with Nitura developing into an unstoppable force after taking down a handful of scoring records.
With five 30-plus point games counting the rookie and all-time scoring marks, Nitura will go out to erase her second-lowest output of 16 points against La Salle in the first round.
And she has the green light to go for it, as far as coach JP Yude is concerned, as long as she does one thing.
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“I want her to stay humble with her God-given talents,” Yude said. “I want her to continue to lead her teammates.” INQ
