GAMES APRIL 23
(Mall of Asia Arena)
1 p.m. – UST vs. UP
3 p.m. – La Salle vs.Adamson
TWO games out of the last Final Four slot, University of the Philippines intends to further prop up its bid in the 87th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament, hoping to end a six-year semifinals drought.
The Fighting Maroons, over the weekend at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, stunned Final Four hopeful La Salle in five thrilling sets 26-24, 18-25, 19-25, 25-22, 16-14 to keep their slim semis aspirations alive.
La Salle is the latest casualty of the gutsy Fighting Maroons, who also stained the records of reigning champion National University last month and contender Far Eastern University back in February in the first round of the eliminations.
“Simple langnamaniyonglaro, susunodlangnamansagameplan. I think magko-connect lahat. Iyonlang, kaya minsan roller coaster nanaman. Muntikan pa. Perobuti, nag-work naman in the crucial times iyong mga ini-expect nagagawa,” coach Benson Bocboc said as his charges improved to 6-6.
The youthful mentor said UP still has a long way to go in its semis bid, reiterating that the Fighting Maroons need to hustle come the crucial stretch of the second round.
The Diliman-based squad must win its last two matches against the UST Golden Tigresses on Wednesday, April 23, at the Mall of Asia Arena, and the Adamson Lady Falcons on Sunday, April 27, at the Big Dome to seal a playoff ticket.
UST, which seeks to return to the Final Four, is tied with La Salle at 8-4 while semifinal-eliminated Adamson is in sixth with a 5-7 mark.
“Sa remaining games namannamin, UST, Adamson, walanamanmapipili dun. Lahatiyon contender. So, walakaming choice kundi mag-push langnang mag-push. Lalo napataposna. So hopefully, mapagbigyan, makaabot ng Top 4 kung may chance, tingnannatin, perolalabantayohanggangdulo,” Bocboc said.
Bocboc, also the head tactician of the Farm Fresh Foxies in the pro ranks, said UP will continue to prepare despite the short break.
The league is on a 10-day break in observance of the Holy Week.
“We’re not going to stop dun sa preparation, kahitmahaba. We’ll discuss langsa mga other coaches kung anoiyong specific nagagawin, saka kung anoiyong mga options,” Bocboc said.
“We can take this advantage to get the time to rest our bodies sakaiyong minds at sakaiyong mga puso, at iyong spirit. Hopefully, pagbaliknamin, mas matibayna after the break.”
