GAMES TODAY
(The Arena, San Juan)
11 a.m. – UP vs. NU
5 p.m. – UE vs. FEU
FAR Eastern University seeks solo second when it tackles University of the East today in the 87th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
While the Lady Red Warriors are at 0-8, Lady Tamaraws coach Tina Salak is not one to count out the Recto-based spikers who just kept on pushing despite being in last place.
“Alam mo, nakaka-inspire ang UE even though 11-woman roster lang sila. Nakaka-inspire sila, I want to play with them na gusto ko nandoon din ako sa position kasi iba iyong pride,” Salak said. “For us, dito sa level namin, kumpleto kami with no excuse na para anuhin pa iyong result ng game. There’s no excuse na matalo or manalo, but kailangan namin i-execute kung ano iyong game plan.
“But with UE kasi, big respect to UE, despite winless, grabe iyong ipinakita nila every game. Nakakainspire silang kalaban. Sa game plan namin, it’s more of continuing kung ano iyong gusto namin marating this second round. Second round muna, huwag muna tayo pumasok ng Final Four. Isa-isa lang,” she added.
Raring for a return trip to the Final Four, the Lady Tamaraws are focusing first on the Lady Warriors in the 5 p.m. duel.
FEU is currently locked in a three-way tie with La Salle and University of Santo Tomas from second to fourth spots at 5-3.
Defending champion National University seeks to extend its perfect run to nine matches against University of the Philippines at 11 a.m.
Sporting a 3-5 record, the Fighting Maroons are two games out of the No. 4 spot. UP is currently tied with Adamson University and Ateneo from fifth to seventh place.
Keeping an unbeaten record is a tough task, but coach Sherwin Meneses, a seven-time PVL champion, is working hard to polish his tried and tested system with the Lady Bulldogs.
“Siyempre, mahirap pero iyan ang trabaho natin. Kung paano mo iha-handle na lang din iyong situation, hindi lang sa volleyball, sa iba pang bagay. Actually, iyong paghandle naman sa Creamline talagang nandiyan na iyan eh. Senior team na sila so, NU naman, senior din iyan so madaling nang hawakan,” Meeneses said.
