MANILA, Philippines - NCAA champion Emilio Aguinaldo College and former UAAP titlist National U clash in a keenly awaited duel of the fancied teams today with no less than perfect record and the top seeding in Group A of the Spikers’ Turf Season 1-Collegaite Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.
Both teams swept their first four matches with the Generals scoring three sweeps and one 3-1 romp over the FEU Tams and the Bulldogs likewise posting three 3-0 routs and a 3-2 decision, also against the Tams.
That makes the 3 p.m. showdown a match to watch with NCAA MVP Howard Mojica, Kerth Melliza, Israel Encina, Juviemark Mangaring and guest player setter Jhon Pagtalunan of EAC raring to slug it out with NU’s vaunted crew of Bryan Bagunas, Fauzi Ismail, Madzlan Gampong, Kim Malabunga, Ricky Marcos and Francis Saura and playmaker Vincent Mangulabnan.
The Bulldogs are also out to stake their claim as the top blocking team in the league presented by PLDT Home Ultera but they are expected to have their hands full against Mojica and company, the No. 2 spiking squad next to Ateneo.
Focus will also be on the 1 p.m. match between FEU and Mapua, which dispute the fourth and last quarters berth in the first-ever men’s intercollegiate tournament backed by Mikasa.
The Tams and the Cardinals tote the same 1-3 slates for joint fourth with the winner joining EAC, NU and third running NCBA (2-2) in the next phase.
Arellano U and La Salle-Dasmariñas, meanwhile, collide in a duel of winless teams in Group B at 5 p.m.