NUNS, UST set for title defense

Reigning champions National University-Nazareth School (NUNS) and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) look to defend their respective crowns in the girls’ and boys’ divisions as the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 88 high school volleyball Final Four fires off today at the Blue Eagle Gym.

The Lady Bullpups and the Junior Golden Spikers, however, enter the semifinals from opposite directions.

Armed with a league-best 13-1 record, the Lady Bullpups secured the top seed and a twice-to-beat advantage against the fourth-seeded Junior Golden Tigresses (8-6).

Meanwhile, on the boys’ side, the Junior Golden Spikers, who finished fourth at 9-5, must win twice to unseat the 13-1, No. 1 seed Bullpups.

The Lady Bullpups swept their elimination-round battles against the Junior Golden Tigresses, taking a 3-1 win in the first round before surviving a thrilling five-set rematch in the second. They aim for a third win in their 3 p.m. duel in Quezon City.

“Slowly but surely, it seems that our opponents are slowly adjusting,” NUNS head coach Karl Dimaculangan said.

“It’s good for us to get their confidence every game, especially in the second round. I hope we sustain it,” added the bemedalled mentor, who will bank on Diza Beroya and Rain Navarro as they chase back-to-back titles.

On the other hand, the Junior Golden Spikers hope to find a stronger sense of urgency in Saturday’s 9 a.m. curtain-raiser, as they have yet to win a set against the Bullpups in two elimination-round meetings.

In the other Final Four matchups, second-seeded University of the East (11-3) in the boys’ division and Adamson University (13-1) in the girls’ bracket also hold twice-to-beat advantages over Far Eastern University-Diliman (FEU-D).

The Junior Red Warriors swept the Baby Tamaraws in the eliminations and now look to complete a season sweep to reach their second Finals appearance in three years.

Clarence Gianan aims to return to the title round alongside Paul Roque as they battle Tyler Ramos, Kenneth Maliwanag, and a determined FEU-D squad at 11 a.m.

Meanwhile, Adamson aces Jannessa Buhay and Ellaine Gonzalvo hope to ride the momentum of their elimination sweep of Aleah Devosora, MJ Udeagbala, and the rest of the Lady Baby Tamaraws to clinch a fifth straight Finals berth.