UNBEATEN league leader La Salle eyes its fourth win in a row as University of the Philippines tries to bounce back on Saturday UAAP in the Season 81 women’s volleyball at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
La Salle is the only unbeaten squad and the Lady Spikers look to tighten its grip on the lead, while UP at 2-1 has a chance to gain solo second.
The Lady Spikers and Lady Maroons clash at 4 p.m. after the 2 p.m. match between Far Eastern University (1-2) and University of Santo Tomas.
Following a four-set win over a young National University squad, La Salle coach Ramil de Jesus said that his squad led by Desiree Cheng and Aduke Ogunsanya has a tough task against a deep and talented UP side featuring Tots Carlos and Isa Molde.
“UP talagang kasi, kahit yung second stringers nila mabibigat din eh,” De Jesus said. “So, tinalo ng UST yun, so paghahandaan namin kung paano din sila talunin. May weak point din sila, sana ma-maximize namin kung ano yun sa Saturday.”
UP faces a tall order as it tries to avoid back-to-back losses.
“Sabi ni coach, no pressure naman pero gusto talaga namin matalo 'yung La Salle,” said Carlos.
“Ang pinakailalim pa rin naman is kailangan namin laruin 'yung laro namin.”
Meanwhile, coach George Pascua hopes to steer FEU, led by Jerrili Malabanan and Celine Domingo, back on the winning track after two straight losses, the second a deflating five-set loss to Ateneo.
“Positibo pa rin kami kasi it’s a long journey pa. matagal pa ang UAAP. One at a time lang. Hindi pwedeng nasa path ka, hihinto ka or babalik ka,” Pascua said. “One step forward lang at a time. Dapat sa previous games namin may matutunan kami. Once natuto na sila sa mga ganoong bagay, madali na sa kanila kung paano i-handle.”