IT is going to be an explosive Saturday gameday in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Season 2 Collegiate Conference as all four UAAP teams cross paths to bolster their semifinals chances at the Arena in San Juan City.
Two unbeaten teams collide as semifinals-bound University of Santo Tomas, which has an immaculate 5-0 win-loss record, takes on an Adamson University (4-0) side that seeks to clinch the second semis berth in ther 2 p.m. game.
Third-placer Far Eastern University (4-1), meanwhile, also guns for the third semis seat when it battles fourth-running University of the Philippines (3-2) at 4 o'clock.
Despite his team winning four of their first five games, FEU head coach George Pascua wants his wards bannered by team’s top scorer, Celine Domingo, Jerrili Malabanan, Heather Guino-o, Jeanette Villareal, setter Kyle Negrito, and rookie Lycha Ebon to level up their game as they face their tough UAAP rivals in the Lady Maroons.
“Siyempre hindi pwede ‘yung laro na nilaro namin (nung past games). Dapat level up kami knowing UP, pag aaralan namin sila, alam naman namin mga advantages and disadvantages namin,” Pascua said.
UP coach Godfrey Okumu, on the other hand, is also worried of the inconsistency of his wards led by Isa Molde, Marian Buitre, playmaker Ayel Estrañero, and rookies Nicole Magsarile and Lorie Bernardo.
“We have to be articulate because our setters were thinking before setting the ball, they were hesitating. We have to get that smooth ride and once we have that smooth ride the game will be interesting,” said the Kenyan coach while also calling out his open spikers.
“The outside spikers, the reason they’re called outside because they get the balls outside of the system. I expect more from Isa and the other outside spikers they’re not up to their standard.”
But all eyes will be on what could be the preview of the finals as undefeated teams, UST and Adamson, battle to preserve their perfect record.
Even though they secured a semis berth after staying unbeaten in five games, UST assistant coach Ian Fernandez keeps on pushing the Tigresses to their limits as they face their biggest test yet in their last two matches against the Lady Falcons in this game and against FEU Lady Tamaraws next week.
“‘Yung complacency pinakakalaban namin sa ligang ‘to and sa kanila dapat putulin namin sa complacency siyempre sa training gagawan na ng paraan,” Fernandez said. “With all due respect sa mga sumali dito lahat sila nirerespect namin, ang Adamson and FEU kita namin standings doon kami mapapalaban, doon matetest ‘yung team.”
Fernandez continues to banks on his young team led by rookies Eya Laure and Ysa Jimenez, guided by Milena Alessandrini, Tin Francisco, Carla Sandoval, Caitlyn Viray and Alina Bicars.
Adamson coach Air Padda, on the other hand, relies on her Lady Falcons led by the league’s top scorer, Eli Soyud, Bern Flora, Chiara Permentilla, Joy Dacoron, rookie Trisha Genesis, and setter MJ Igao.
Despite staying unbeaten in four matches, Padda was not convinced with how her Lady Falcons performed in all those wins.
“We’re far away from where we need to be and we’re not utilizing our strengths except our defense,” she said. “There’s a lot to go for the team, it’s a work in progress.”
In men’s action, NU (5-1) tries to recover from its first loss at the helm of De La Salle last Wednesday when it seeks to tighten its hold of the second place against third running Adamson (4-2) at 9 a.m. followed by the match between FEU (3-3) and San Beda (2-4) at 11 a.m.
La Salle (2-4), which is brimming with confidence after upsetting NU, eyes its third straight win against College of Saint Benilde (3-3) at 6 p.m.
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