La Salle starts SSL campaign

Games Saturday:

(Rizal Memorial Coliseum)

10 a.m. — SSC-R vs UST

12:30 p.m. — UPHSD vs UE

3 p.m. — Ateneo vs Arellano U

5:30 p.m. — FEU vs DLSU

De La Salle University takes the spotlight when it begins its title quest in the Shakey's Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship against Far Eastern University on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Expect nothing but exhilarating action when the two fierce University Athletic Association of the Philippines rivals meet in the featured 5:30 p.m. Pool D pairing of the quadruple-header playdate.

Also scheduled to debut in the tournament are Ateneo de Manila University and Arellano University which will clash at 3 p.m. in Pool C.

Elsewhere, University of Santo Tomas seeks its second win in the 10 a.m. Pool B match against San Sebastian College while University of the East and University of Perpetual Help dispute the solo lead in Pool A at 12:30 p.m.

But all eyes will be on the Lady Spikers, especially on their prized rookie Angel Canino.

The highly-recruited freshman gets her first chance to showcase what she could bring to the table against the Lady Tamaraws handled by her former high school coach Tina Salak.

"Everything will be new to me so I'm looking forward to this game," the former UAAP girls' volleyball Most Valuable Player said.

Canino was Salak's main gunner when De La Salle-Zobel scored a championship upset over then five-peat-seeking Nazareth School of National University in 2018.

Salak knows her former ward very well and now as rivals, she will try to exploit her familiarity with the Ilongga spiker for FEU's advantage.

"It will be difficult to face the former player that you trained for a long time. There will be advantages and disadvantages, but I will use my advantages to win," Salak said.

Ironically, the multi-awarded former national team setter will be pinning her hopes on NU high school product Barbie Jamili, who was instrumental in the Lady Tams' 25-20, 24-26, 19-25, 25-22, 15-11 win over reigning National Collegiate Athletic Association champion College of St. Benilde last week.

Meanwhile, the Tigresses are looking to notch another win after a hard-fought 25-20, 27-29, 15-25, 29-27, 15-10 victory over Adamson University.

On the other hand, the Lady Warriors, who are coming off a tough win over Mapua University, 31-33, 25-20, 25-23, 21-25, 15-12, expect another stiff opposition against the Lady Altas, who turned back San Beda University, 24-26, 25-21, 25-23, 27-25, in their opening game.