Daily Tribune
BELLA Belen needs to get more involved on offense to help NU get into the win column. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF UAAP
Games today:
(Mall of Asia Arena)
10 a.m. — Adamson vs UP (m)
12 p.m. — NU vs Ateneo (m)
2 p.m. — Adamson vs UP (w)
40 p.m. — NU vs Ateneo (w)
National University aims to rebound from an opening day loss when it squares off with Ateneo de Manila University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 women's volleyball tournament Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Opening serve is set at 4 p.m. with the Lady Bulldogs hoping to erase their bitter upset loss at the hands of University of Santo Tomas last week.
The Season 85 runners-up absorbed a stunning 19-25, 23-25, 22-25, setback against the rookie-laden Golden Tigresses last Sunday.
It was an underwhelming performance for NU, which came in the season as the favorite to challenge defending champion De La Salle University for the title.
Season 84 Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player Bella Belen is expected to bounceback from a subpar offensive production after a quiet nine points for the Lady Bulldogs the last time out.
Returning NU mentor Norman Miguel will also bank on Alyssa Solomon and Vange Alinsug, who combined for 27 points in the previous game, to help the squad get its first win.
The Blue Eagles, meanwhile, keep their spirits high despite a 25-20, 18-25, 23-25, 18-25 defeat to University of the East in the opener that ended their 21-match winning run over the Lady Warriors that lasted 14 years.
Holdovers Lyann de Guzman, Geezel Tsunashima, AC Miner, Yvana Sulit, Taks Fujimoto, and libero-captain Roma Mae Doromal will try to keep the team together to hand Brazilian coach Sergio Veloso his first UAAP win.
"Since we're the seniors, we really need like to step up since the team relies on us. We're the ates to our rookies. We have to show our leadership," De Guzman, who logged 19 points and 16 digs in the opener, said.
Also looking to pluck their first win are the Lady Falcons and Fighting Maroons.
Adamson was overwhelmed by the Lady Spikers, 16-25, 16-25, 18-25, a week ago.
UP fell to Far Eastern University, 23-25, 21-25, 18-25, last Sunday.
In men's play, opening day losers Adamson and UP collide at 12 p.m. while Ateneo shoots for back-to-back wins against four-peat-seeking NU, which suffered a straight-sets loss to UST in the early rematch of last year's finals.
