REIGNING women's champion La Salle will face off against an on-the-rise Adamson side while a star-studded men's finals rematch awaits titleholder National University and University of Sto. Tomas on opening weekend of the UAAP Season 86 volleyball tournaments at the Mall of Asia Arena.
LOOK:
Both defending champions will headline the first staging of UAAP volleyball action this year, with Round 1 set to run for one month beginning February 17 before first-round action ends on a Sunday, March 17, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ: Seniors Gagate, Coronel embrace leadership roles at La Salle
For the champion Taft squad, the time for its young core to step up in the face of a tougher challenge to defend the crown is now.
"Iniisip lang namin na kaya namin kasi ngayon, panahon na namin ‘to. Tapos na ‘yung time nila ate Mars [Alba]. Ngayon, time na namin ni Julia [Coronel] to lead the team and we’re just very grateful that we’ve been given a chance," said two-time UAAP best middle blocker Thea Gagate.
"We’re very confident for getting the back-to-back championships and we’ll definitely work hard for it together," incoming captain Coronel added.
Tougher task to defend the crown
In the men's tournament, multi-titled Bulldogs head coach Dante Alinsunurin and his team won't be lulled into complacency as he urged his squad to keep their eyes on the prize.
"Challenge lagi every season or every conference talaga na kailangan lagi kaming may pinang-huhugutan kasi mahirap talagang mag-defend ng crown. Kaya sabi ko sa players ko, may challenge na tayong kakaharapin kaya dapat mas lagi tayong ready," said Alinsunurin.
"Importante din kasi sa mga players na kailangan ma-challenge lagi sa mga nangyayari or anuman ‘yung maging sitwasyon namin ngayong UAAP," he added.
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