BY ABBY TORALBA
NATIONAL University tries to bag the first twice-to-beat slot in the Final Four when it battles Far Eastern University today in the 86th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Currently locked in a three-way tie for the top spot, a loss by the Lady Bulldogs to the Lady Tamaraws in the 4 p.m. match will drop the Sampaloc-based belles in a playoff for the No. 2 slot.
A defeat will drop NU to a playoff between the loser of this Saturday’s showdown between defending champion La Salle and University of Santo Tomas for the other twice-to-beat berth.
The Lady Bulldogs are currently level with the Tigresses and the Lady Spikers at 11-2.
A NU win will turn the La Salle-UST tiff into a duel for the remaining twice-to-beat berth in the Final Four.
Bella Belen emphasized the need for the Lady Bulldogs to sustain their high level of play as the tournament nears the finish line.
“Dapat kung kelan kami patapos na laro, dun kami dapat mas ganahan mag laro at manalo,” said Belen.
“Dapat hindi kami maging kampante na hindi kami matatalo, dapat yung eagerness namin to win andun pa rin,” she added.
FEU, which has a 9-4 record, has already secured the No. 4 ranking in the Final Four and is enjoying a five-match winning streak.
A victory will be a good stead for the Lady Tamaraws, as they will bring a much-needed confidence boost heading to the Final Four despite not having a twice-to-beat bonus.
“Siyempre po, the first is I need to be like myself and trust myself, I need to believe in myself so I know I can do it,” said Congo’s Faida Bakanke, who is having a sensational second round.
