UAAP takes Holy Week break

Games on April 23

(SM Mall of Asia Arena)

9 a.m. – UST vs UP (Men)

11 a.m. – DLSU vs AdU (Men)

1 p.m. – UST vs UP (Women)

3 p.m. – DLSU vs AdU (Women)

MANILA, Philippines — The UAAP takes a much-needed pause in observance of the Holy Week before hitting the stride in the homestretch of the volleyball tournaments with still a bevy of pivotal matches next Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

All eight squads embarked on a 12-day break after the last game day on Sunday highlighted by the University of the Philippines’ massive stunner over La Salle to derail its Final Four march.

Before the lull, reigning champion National University clinched the top-seeding and a twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four after dispatching also-ran Ateneo, 25-16, 25-15, 25-21.

NU enjoys the solo view at the top with an 11-2 slate as La Salle (8-4) got dragged into an expected photo finish for the other bonus with University of Santo Tomas (8-4) and Far Eastern U (8-5).

Still in contention is UP (6-6), thanks to a big 26-24, 18-25, 19-25, 25-22, 16-14 win over La Salle, albeit it needs to win its last two games and for one of the three teams ahead of it to lose remaining matches to force a knockout at fourth.

Already out of the picture are Adamson (6-6), Ateneo (4-9) and the winless University of the East (0-13).

Games will resume next week featuring the crucial battle between UST and UP as La Salle seeks to bolster its bonus bid against Adamson.

In the men’s side, the Final Four picture is complete regardless of the results of the remaining games following La Salle’s 11-25, 25-18, 25-21, 28-30, 15-9 win over UP to eliminate Ateneo in the process.

At 8-4, La Salle joined UST (8-4), four-peat champion NU (11-2) and top-ranked FEU (12-1) on to the semis.  

The Tamaraws and the Bulldogs already clinched the twice-to-beat incentives as the sure Top 2 seeds but La Salle and Santo Tomas still have to dispute their rankings in the final two matches.

Like in the women’s play, La Salle takes aim on that goal against Adamson while UST shoots for the same against UP.

Ateneo (6-7), UP (3-9), Adamson (2-10) and UE (0-13) are already out.