Four the win: NU tackles UP, targets solo lead

Games today:

(UST Quadricentennial Pavilion)

9 a.m. — UST vs UE (m)

11 a.m. — UST vs UE (w)

3 p.m. — NU vs UP (m)

5 p.m. — NU vs UP (w)

Three-peat-seeking National University (NU) puts its unbeaten record on the line in an attempt to regain the solo lead in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament.

Hurdling their first three opponents, the Lady Bulldogs have the obvious momentum against the reeling University of the Philippines (UP) when they meet Saturday at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Quadricentennial Pavilion.

Another victory by NU in the 5 p.m. meeting will propel it back to the solo top spot, as it currently shares the leaderboard with idle De La Salle University.

The Lady Bulldogs are coming off a character-testing reverse sweep of Far Eastern University, 17-25, 16-25, 25-19, 25-21, 15-12, last week.

NU’s escape capped its tough opening week when it beat the Final Four contender Golden Tigresses in four sets before sweeping darkhorse Adamson University.

“Of course, we have to celebrate the moment. Those are very heavy teams that we faced. We are very happy about that. (But) we need to study and we need to learn more because this is not the end. We still have a lot to play. It’s going to be a very long journey. We have to study more and train more,” Lady Bulldogs mentor Regine Diego said.

Rookie-sensation Sam Cantada, veterans Arah Panique, Vange Alinsug and setter Lams Lamina will once again banner a strong NU side seeking to avenge its eliminations second round loss to the Fighting Maroons last season.

UP, on the other hand, will try to get back on its feet following a straight sets humiliation it suffered at the hands of the Lady Spikers last Wednesday.

No Fighting Maroon player reached double-figure scoring in a 12-25, 15-25, 19-25, whipping against La Salle that snapped their two-game winning run.

UP is tied with Adamson University in third to fourth spots.

Meanwhile, UST hosts winless University of the East (UE) in the other women’s pairing slated at 11 a.m.

The Tigresses got the monkey off their backs with a 26-24, 25-18, 25-21, drubbing of listless Ateneo de Manila University three days ago for their first win in three tries.

With momentum and homecourt advantage on its side, UST looks to add to the Lady Warriors’ woes.

“Of course, excited to play in our homecourt and I’m sure we’ll have lots of supporters coming in. We’ll double, if possible, triple our effort for that game,” returning Tigresses mentor Shaq Delos Santos said.

“We’re excited to play on the court that we use for training every day. So hopefully, we’ll be more confident in all the things we do,” added the coach who steered UST to its last title back in 2010.

UE is still looking for the elusive win after dropping its first three starts.

In men’s play, six-peat-seeking Bulldogs are raring to bounce back from a stinging setback in the previous outing when they battle the Fighting Maroons at 3 p.m.

NU absorbed a 25-22, 21-25, 17-25, 20-25, shocker in a rematch against last year’s finals victim Far Eastern University last Sunday, pulling it down to a 2-1 slate.

The Bulldogs are tied with UP and UST in second to fourth behind the undefeated Tamaraws (3-0).

The Fighting Maroons are fresh off a four-set win over La Salle last Wednesday.

Kicking off the busy playdate at 9 a.m. are the Golden Spikers, hoping to string a third straight win against the Red Warriors, who are coming off a five-set victory over Adamson to end a 23-game losing skid dating back to Season 86.

UE sports a 1-2 record tied with Ateneo.