La Salle, National U try to keep surprise UAAP leader in sight
All eyes will be on Bella Belen (right) as she tries to lead National U to a fourth straight victory. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Having obviously gotten over the pain of their first defeat in Season 86 of the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament, defending champion La Salle returns to action on Wednesday, seeking to put a winning streak together again when the Lady Spikers battle troubled University of the East (UE).
Angel Canino and the rest of the towering La Salle crew take the Mall of Asia Arena floor at 2 p.m., heavily favored over the Lady Warriors, who before the weekend had their coach, Jerry Yee, suspended by the UAAP.
But even then, La Salle coach Ramil de Jesus refuses to take this game for granted.
“That’s still a very promising team,” De Jesus said in Filipino. “That is because their players have been together since high school, and that’s a big factor.”
La Salle rebounded from a five-set loss to University of Santo Tomas (UST) with a 25-12, 25-22, 25-19 shellacking of bitter rival Ateneo last Saturday, while UE will be coming into this game just three nights removed from a 25-19, 25-19, 26-28, 29-27 loss to Adamson.
Pinch-hitter
Obet Vital is calling the shots in place of Yee, and the pinch-hitter is only asking one thing from his girls, especially after seeing them fight to the end against the Lady Falcons.
“Just for them to give it their best,” Vital, who hopes that Yee wins his appeal to the league’s board and returns in time for the game, said. “To play against the taller blockers, they know what to do. That’s what we are gonna try to do and do with more spirit.”
Idle UST is setting the pace with a 4-0 record, its latest escape act coming against Far Eastern University on Sunday where the Golden Tigresses rallied from two sets down to win a marathon match.
And while the Lady Tamaraws are still licking the wounds of that fold-up, National University (NU) looks to take advantage in the 4 p.m. contest with Bella Belen again leading her talented squad.
La Salle and NU are at 3-1, with both being conquered by, you guessed it, Santo Tomas. The Lady Bulldogs have won three straight after losing in straight sets to the Tigresses on opening day and they have all the momentum they need going up against the Lady Tamaraws. INQ
