Lady Spikers, Lady Tamaraws collide for solo third place

Games Saturday

(Araneta Coliseum)

9 a.m. - ADMU vs UE (men)

11 a.m. - FEU vs DLSU (men)

1 p.m. - ADMU vs UE (women)

3 p.m. - FEU vs DLSU (women)

MANILA, Philippines -- Contenders La Salle and Far Eastern University figure in a crucial tiff to stay within striking distance from pace-setters National University and University of Santo Tomas at the close of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball first round Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Game time is at 3 p.m., with the victor of the pivotal duel owning the solo third spot entering the second round as teams shore up their drive in the heating-up Final Four race. Cellar-dwellers Ateneo (1-5) and University of the East (0-6) first battle at 1 p.m., after the men’s duels of Ateneo-UE and FEU-La Salle at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., respectively.

Both the Lady Spikers and the Lady Tamaraws hold 4-2 slates with a three-game winning streak each, lurking behind UST (5-1) and reigning champion NU (6-0) that will dispute the No. 1 seed Sunday in a much-awaited finals rematch.

The pressure is on both camps to stay in the thick of the tightrope derby, especially with the twice-to-beat incentives in mind for the coveted first and second seeds.

“Ang importante sa amin ay makakuha ng mga panalo kasi malayo yung No. 1 and No. 2. Wag lang kami magpapaiwan. Sana maipilit namin makahabol. ‘Yun ang goal namin,” said La Salle mentor Ramil de Jesus.

“Kahit sino namang kalaban namin, kailangang paghandaan. Wala kang mapipiling kalaban kasi lahat competitive.”

La Salle had a taste of that UAAP competitiveness early in the season with a 1-2 slate to tie its worst start in almost 20 years before stringing three straight victories to catch up.

The latest one was a 25-15, 25-14, 20-25, 25-19 trashing of rival Ateneo for the 15th straight time behind Shevana Laput’s career-high of 25 points.

FEU had the same route, staring at a 1-2 start despite a big debut win against runner-up UST, before taking care of its last three assignments.

Against the Lady Spikers who last saw action just this Wednesday, the Lady Tamaraws will bank on fresher legs with a week-long layoff since a 23-25, 25-15, 25-13, 25-10 win over Adamson last weekend.

“Happy naman kami sa pinapakita ng players kasi nagbunga na ‘yung talo namin sa UP (at NU). Pakonti-konti nakakabalik na kami. Maganda kasi mahaba ‘yung preparation namin papunta sa La Salle game,” said FEU assistant coach Manolo Refugia.