By Abby Toralba
DEFENDING champion National University is favored to beat Ateneo today and formalize its claim on the second twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four of the 85th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
The Lady Bulldogs clash with the Blue Eagles at 11 a.m., with De La Salle University, the top seed in the semis, taking on University of the East at 5 p.m.
Led by sophomore Alyssa Solomon and reigning MVP Bella Belen, the Sampaloc-based Lady Bulldogs virtually bagged the second twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four by beating University of Santo Tomas 25-16, 25-21, 17-25, 25-14 last Wednesday.
The victory gave NU a 10-3 card, with UST being relegated to 9-4 in a tie with Adamson University. La Salle leads the way with a 12-1 card.
The Blue Eagles are hoping to finish their campaign on a high after absorbing a 25-22, 25-19, 25-18 defeat against La Salle last Sunday.
Solomon and Belen, along with Camila Lamina, Vange Alinsug, Erin Pangilinan and Sheena Toring, are expected to lead the way for the Lady Bulldogs while Faith Nisperos, Vanie Gandler, Takako Fujimoto, AC Miner, and Joan Narit are out to give the Blue Eagles what could be their last hurrah this season.
The Lady Spikers, sparked by rookies Angel Canino, Sheevana Laput and skipper Jolina Dela Cruz, secured the first twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four by beating Ateneo six days ago.
“Iyong paghahanda sa last game namin, nandoon parin. Respeto, then we have to end the second round on a high note going to the semifinals, kailangan ready kami pagdating ng semifinals.” said La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo.
UE ended its losing slump by scoring a 16-25, 25-21, 26-24, 19-25, 15-12 win over University of the Philippines last Wednesday.
The Lady Spikers are expected to lean on Canino, Laput, Dela Cruz together with Thea Gagate, Mars Alba and Fifi Sharma.
