Lady Knights seek 4th win vs JRU foes

MANILA, Philippines —  Keeping the faith.

That has been the battle cry of a vastly improved, Oliver Almadro-mentored Letran as it aims to continue its fairy tale run against Jose Rizal University today in NCAA Season 99 women’s volleyball at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

From a non-Final Four squad a year ago, Almadro has transformed the Lady Knights to legitimate title contenders after zooming to a perfect 3-0 start that they capped with a 25-22, 25-21, 23-25, 25-14 win over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Lady Generals Tuesday.

The pontifical school’s other two wins came at the expense of pre-pandemic champion Arellano U and University of Perpetual Help, which made the Final Four a season back.

And another win would catapult Letran back to the top alongside three-peat-seeking College of St. Benilde, which remained unshakeable with a pristine 4-0 mark.

Letran is hoping to sustain its juggernaut as it clashes with JRU (1-2) at 10 a.m.

“I just keep telling them to keep on believing,” said Almadro.

The Lady Knights have relied mostly on the attacking combo of Gia Maquilang, Nizelle Aeriyen Martin and Marie Judiel Nitura, who are currently in the top 20 in scoring, as well as setter Natalie Marie Estreller, who is No. 2 in setting behind only Lyceum of the Philippines U’s Venice Puzon.