Games today:

(Mall of Asia Arena)

10 a.m. — UE vs FEU (m)

12 p.m. — UST vs UP (m)

2 p.m. — UE vs FEU (w)

4 p.m. — UST vs UP (w)

University of the Philippines (UP) faces an acid test when it battles the Angge Poyos-spiked University of Santo Tomas (UST) as action in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament intensifies on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Fighting Maroons, after a promising 2-0 start, have since dropped two straight games.

UST assistant coach Ian Fernandez remains wary of UP’s unpredictable ways.

“The difficult part about UP is that they have a very diverse lineup, so our scouting is essentially a guessing game. We really have to study every rotation in each set,” Fernandez explained.

The Golden Tigresses, holding a strong 3-1 record, aim to stay within striking distance of defending champion National University (4-0).

The Fighting Maroons, under new coach Benson Bocboc, hope to regroup and end their five-game losing skid against the Golden Tigresses dating back to the 2022 season.

In the first women’s game, Eastern University (FEU) is set to battle the winless University of the East (UE) at 2 p.m., aiming to capitalize on its recent momentum.

The Lady Tamaraws, currently in a four-way tie for third place with a 2-2 record, snapped a two-game losing streak with a win over Ateneo de Manila University last Sunday.

Gerzel Petallo, Faid Bakenke, and Mitzi Panangin, who spearheaded FEU’s previous victory, will be instrumental in securing another crucial win.

Head coach Tina Salak emphasized the importance of resilience and continuous learning.

“I’m also teaching them to let go. But we also need to learn from our past mistakes, and we work on those past mistakes during training. That’s where we find solutions.”

On the other hand, UE, struggling at 0-4, remains determined to break into the win column despite its challenges with a depleted roster.

In men’s competition, unbeaten FEU looks to extend its winning streak to five matches when it takes on last-placed UE at 10 a.m.

The Tamaraws are determined to sustain their dominance, but assistant coach Rene Dulay reminded the team to stay focused.

“We have to prepare. We can’t disregard them because they’re also putting up a fight. The mindset should always be to respect your opponent, regardless of our standing.”

UE, still searching for its first victory, will attempt to pull off an upset against the league leaders.

At 12 noon, UST takes on UP in a crucial battle for positioning.

The Golden Spikers, tied at 3-1 with five-peat-seeking National University, aim to secure solo second place.

Assistant coach Benjie Mape believes the team’s maturity is starting to show.

“The kids are developing maturity when it comes to pressured games and endgame situations. Our skills are no longer lapsing, and our consistency is gradually improving,” Mape noted.

UP, currently tied for sixth place at 1-3 with Adamson, will rely on Nigerian import Olayemi Raheem to lead the charge as they look to snap a three-game skid.