UP tests mettle vs La Salle for solo lead in UAAP volleyball

Games Saturday:

(PhilSports Arena)

8 a.m. – AdU vs UE (Men)

10 a.m. – FEU vs Ateneo (Men)

2 p.m. – UP vs DLSU (Women)

4 p.m. – NU vs AdU (Women)

MANILA, Philippines – University of the Philippines hopes to hurdle its first acid test against De La Salle in an explosive showdown for the early lead in the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball  tournament at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Philsports Arena.

Adamson University hopes to join the first game winner on top at 2-0 as it clashes with National University at 4 p.m.

With veterans Nicole Tiamzon, Kathy Bersola and Marian Buitre and a bunch of highly-touted rookies in Isa Molde, Justine Dorog and Diana Carlos, the high hopes for the Lady Maroons to make it to the Final Four is there.

UP defeated a vastly-improved University of the East side, 25-20, 25-13, 25-21, in last Sunday’s opener.

Pitting against the Lady Spikers who are a regular Final Four fixture, Lady Maroons coach Jerry Yee stressed the need for his first year players to make adjustments in their game, if the Diliman-based spikers want to pull off an early reversal.       

 “Against La Salle, hindi puwede kaming maraming service errors and we have to execute well,” said Yee.

The Lady Spikers, meanwhile, proved everyone that they are still one of the league’s powerhouses.

De La Salle, with former MVP Ara Galang back, debuted with a 29-27, 25-23, 25-20 victory over Far Eastern University last Wednesday.

Aside from Galang, who had 10 points and five digs in her first game in almost a year after going down with a knee injury, Mika Reyes, Carol Cerveza, Majoy Baron, Christine Soyud and rookie May Luna shone for the Lady Spikers.

 “We have to lessen our errors,” said La Salle assistant coach Benson Bocboc.

The Lady Falcons opened their campaign with a narrow 25-22, 25-21, 20-25, 28-30, 16-14 win over University of Santo Tomas last Wednesday, while the Lady Bulldogs hope to rebound from a 21-25, 19-25, 14-25 loss to defending champion Ateneo in the opener.

Meanwhile, men’s titleholder Ateneo and FEU dispute the solo lead at 10 a.m., right after Adamson and UE take on the floor at 8 a.m.