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| c/o UAAP Media Team |
Standings W L
Women
*NU 10 2
DLSU 8 3
FEU 8 4
UST 7 4
UP 5 6
AdU 4 7
Ateneo 4 8
UE 0 12
Men
*FEU 11 1
NU 10 2
UST 7 4
DLSU 7 4
Ateneo 6 6
UP 3 8
AdU 2 9
UE 0 12
*Final Four
Games Saturday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum
9 a.m. – UE vs UST (Men)
11 a.m. – AdU vs FEU (Men)
1 p.m. – UE vs UST (Women)
3 p.m. – AdU vs FEU (Women)
THE Final Four cast in the UAAP women's volleyball tournament could be completed before the Lenten break as University of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University, and De La Salle are eyeing to get the job done this weekend and direct their focus on the tougher battles ahead.
The Tigresses will take on last-place University of the East at 1 p.m. today (Saturday), while the Lady Tamaraws tangle with dangerous Adamson University at 3 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Lady Spikers, meanwhile, face University of the Philippines at 3 p.m. on Palm Sunday, also at the Big Dome.
After Sunday's matchday, the league will have its annual Holy Week hiatus and will resume action on April 23.
Defending champion National University has already secured a place in the Final Four with a 10-2 record. It needs to win one of its remaining two elimination round matches to bag the twice-to-beat incentive.
De La Salle is second with an 8-3 record, half a game ahead of Far Eastern University, which has an 8-4 record.
UST, meanwhile, sits in fourth place with a 7-4 slate. The Tigresses are two clear of the Fighting Maroons (5-6) in the race for the last Final Four slot.
The Tigresses have already recovered from the mid-elimination slump by winning their last two matches to remain in the top four range.
"Kailangan namin i-overachieve kung ano yung mga nagagawa namin ngayon. Again, yung learning, learning namin dun sa three-game losing skid namin, yun talaga yun ang binabaon namin. At least yung maturity and decision-making ng mga bata na mas tumibay pa in different situations," UST coach Kungfu Reyes said.
("We need to overachieve beyond what we’re doing right now. Again, it’s the lessons we’ve learned from that three-game losing skid—that’s what we’re carrying with us. At the very least, the maturity and decision-making of the players have grown stronger through different situations.")
The Tigresses seek to sustain the momentum of their back-to-back victories with the Lady Warriors, who need to win one of their remaining two elims assignments to avoid their first winless season in 10 years, still groping to achieve a breakthrough.
The Tamaraws, the 29-time champions who last ruled the league in 2008, are looking good in their bid for a second straight Final Four appearance.
FEU coach Tina Salak, one of the greatest players who emerged in the storied program, is determined to do well in this most crucial stage of the season. In third place, the Lady Tamaraws still have a shot of finishing in the top two in the eliminations.
"Puwede ko na ilapit konti. Ilalapit ko muna. For me, as being one of the members noon sa FEU volleyball program then ako yung may chance na makapagbigay ng 30th, isang milestone yun sa career ko. Di ko puwedeng kalimutan din yung FEU doon sa tiwala na binigay nila sa akin, handling this team, this situation, for my personal growth and the community. Ibabalik ko lagi sa community kung ano yung pwede kong ibigay," said Salak.
("I can start bringing it a little closer. For me, as someone who was once part of the FEU volleyball program, and now having the chance to deliver their 30th championship—that's a milestone in my career. I can’t forget what FEU has done for me, especially the trust they’ve given me in handling this team and this situation. It’s helped me grow personally and professionally. And I’ll always give back to the community whatever I can.")
The Lady Falcons are coming off a stunning 25-23, 15-25, 28-26, 25-22 win over the Lady Bulldogs last Sunday to keep their slim Final Four hopes alive.
Three games behind UST at 4-7, Adamson is simply hoping for the best.
A victory by the Tigresses in the curtain-raiser raiser coupled with a loss to the Lady Tamaraws, will eliminate the Lady Falcons for a second straight season.
"Siguro yung spirit lang talaga sa loob ng and then sa fight lang na meron yung mga bata kasi walang imposible eh. May mga malakas na kalaban sa mga games namin pero kailangan lang talagang trabahuin one game at a time," Adamson coach JP Yude said.
("Maybe it’s really just the spirit within the team and the fight that these kids have—because nothing is impossible. We’ve faced tough opponents in our games, but we just need to take it one game at a time.")
"So kailangan lang namin unahin yung FEU so kailangan lang, yun nga gaya ng sinasabi ko walang mawawala satin so kung baga kung pahihirapan natin sila sa kanila may mawawala, kasi yung mga makakalaban namin contender din sa Final Four so once na makuha namin," he added.
("So we need to focus on FEU first. Like I always say, we’ve got nothing to lose. But if we make it difficult for them, they’re the ones who have something to lose. The teams we’re going up against are also Final Four contenders, so if we can pull off a win, it’s going to be huge.")
The Lady Falcons will be led by prolific rookie Shai Nitura, who scored a record four 30-plus points games this season, as Yude knows that it will take collective effort to win matches.
"Kailangan lang talaga namin pagigihan sa training and always trust one another talaga eh. Yun lang talaga, kasi pag walang trust sa bawat isa mahirap so I fully trust my player sa kung anong kaya nilang gawin kasi I know that their capability kasi kaya nilang maglaro gaya ng tumalo ng malalakas na team," said Yude.
("We really just need to work harder in training and always trust one another. That’s really it—because if there’s no trust among us, it’s going to be difficult. I fully trust my players and what they’re capable of because I know they have what it takes. They can compete and even beat strong teams.")
In the men's division, UST seeks to move closer to bagging a Final Four slot as it plays UE at 9 a.m.
FEU, already assured of a twice-to-beat slot in the Final Four, takes on Adamson in a warm-up to crucial battles ahead at 11 a.m.
Coach Odjie Mamon liked what he saw on the Golden Spikers as of late, though there are worries. UST, which is tied with De La Salle at 7-4, is ahead by one-and-a-half games over Ateneo (6-6) in the race for the last Final Four slot.
"When it comes to their physical conditioning, pa-peak na. When it comes to the mastery of the system, we're almost there also. Hopefully, maganda yung timing ng pag-peak talaga namin. So, with the coming Holy Week, medyo masisira. Ma-disrupt yung flow. Kaya dapat tuloy tuloy lang kami on forming the team talaga," Mamon said.
("When it comes to their physical conditioning, they're nearing their peak. In terms of mastering the system, we're almost there as well. Hopefully, the timing of us reaching our peak works out well. But with the upcoming Holy Week, it might throw things off a bit and disrupt the flow. That’s why we need to keep pushing and stay consistent in building the team.")
Assured of finishing in the top two and now focusing on redeeming themselves after the Tamaraws blew the twice-to-beat advantage in last season's Final Four clash with the Golden Spikers, coach Eddieson Orcullo is confident that they will make it up this time.
"Yung taya ng tao namin ngayon, hindi namin hinahanap yung mga tao na nawala. Ang difference lang siguro, may kanya kanyang time ‘eh kung paano mo gagampanan yung pagkakataon mo. Kung sila ngayon nasa harapan natin, lagi natin sinasabi na seize the moment, hindi lang sa players, pati sa coaches. Huwag natin hayaan na masayang yung pagkakataon natin ngayon. Hangga’t maari, kung ano yung kaya ibigay natin, mas triplehin natin," said Orcullo as FEU tries to improve its league-best 11-1 record.
("Our team's mindset right now isn't about looking for the players who are no longer with us. The difference, I guess, is that everyone has their own time to step up and make the most of their opportunity. For those who are in front of us now, we always say, 'seize the moment'—not just to the players, but to the coaches as well. Let's not waste this chance we have right now. As much as possible, whatever we can give, let's give it three times more.")
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