GAMES TODAY
(The Arena, San Juan)
9 a.m. – Ateneo vs. NU (Men)
11 a.m. – Ateneo vs. NU (Women)
3 p.m. – UP vs. FEU (Men)
5 p.m. – UP vs. FEU (Women)
DEFENDING champion National University eyes a big follow-up to its impressive season-opening win over De La Salle when it clashes with Ateneo today, Wednesday, in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
Ranged against a Blue Eagles side decimated by injuries, new coach Sherwin Meneses wants the Lady Bulldogs to sustain the high level of play they showed in their 25-23, 25-21, 25-18 sweep of the Lady Spikers.
The match is set at 11 a.m.
“Champion team na ‘yung NU. Sinasabihan lang namin na one point at a time lang. Talagang dapat trabahuhin ‘yung pag-defend ng crown,” said Meneses, a seven-time champion coach with Creamline.
Ateneo opened its season with a heartbreaking 25-21, 25-20, 12-25, 15-25, 12-15 defeat to Adamson University, where the Katipunan-based side lost Zel Tsunashima to a leg injury late in the fifth set. The Blue Eagles were also without injured hitters Sobe Buena and JLo Delos Santos, who could have helped the team’s top options, Lyann de Guzman and AC Miner.
The Lady Bulldogs are potent as ever with the core of reigning MVP Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Vange Alinsug, Erin Pangilinan, setter Lams Lamina, and libero Shaira Jardio.
In the men’s division, five-peat-seeking NU plays fellow opening-day winner Ateneo at 9 a.m.
Newly installed Blue Eagles coach Vince Mangulabnan, a former champion setter from the Bulldogs, is looking forward to facing his former team.
“Excited ako makalaban yung alma mater ko plus sobrang excited akong makita lalaruin ng players ko against NU na alam ko naman na sobrang lakas,” said Mangulabnan.
The Blue Eagles, who opened the season with a 25-17, 25-19, 22-25, 25-23 conquest of the Falcons, are facing a tough battle with the Bulldogs, who swept the Green Spikers, 25-22, 25-22, 25-19.
Far Eastern University and University of the Philippines vie for the early lead in the other men’s match at 3 p.m.
The Lady Tamaraws and the Fighting Maroons also shoot for a 2-0 record in the women’s side at 5 p.m. to wrap a quadruple-header.
