Games today:
(Mall of Asia Arena)
9 a.m. — La Salle vs UE (m)
11 a.m. — Adamson vs FEU (m)
1 p.m. — La Salle vs UE (w)
3 p.m. — Adamson vs FEU (w)
Far Eastern University (FEU) aims to cap off a momentum-building stretch with a victory Saturday as it faces Adamson University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.
FEU head coach Tina Salak is upbeat about securing another positive result in their 3 p.m. clash against the Lady Falcons as the Lady Tamaraws aim to solidify their grip at third place in the standings.
Following a hard-fought five-set triumph over Ateneo de Manila University, FEU notched its first back-to-back wins of the season with a convincing 25-23, 25-19, 25-20 victory over University of the East (UE) last Wednesday.
“This has been a great motivation for the players, and of course, we want to improve on what’s lacking in our game,” Salak said.
“There are still a lot of lapses, and we need to address them. We should not be complacent and must eliminate minor errors, especially against tough UAAP teams.”
Meanwhile, Adamson, currently tied with De La Salle University for fourth place with a 2-2 record, is determined to avoid its first losing streak of the season.
The Lady Tamaraws are preparing for the challenge posed by Adamson’s standout rookie, Shai Nitura, who is currently ranked second in scoring.
At 1 p.m., the 12-time champion La Salle takes on the winless UE, seeking its first back-to-back victories of the tournament.
Despite the Lady Warriors’ struggle due to a depleted roster, which resulted in consecutive straight-set losses to Adamson and FEU, Lady Spikers assistant coach Noel Orcullo stressed the importance of maintaining their standard of play.
“We won’t take UE lightly, even if they have lost key players. That’s what we always remind our players, no matter the situation, UE always fights hard.”
“We cannot underestimate them. That’s why we prepare, scout, and analyze their game.”
UE, still in search of their first win after a 0-5 start, relies on Khy Cepada and Van Bangayan for instant offense, with libero Ange Reyes anchoring their defense. However, these efforts have not been enough to turn their fortunes around.
La Salle’s dynamic duo of Angel Canino and Shevana Laput, ranked fifth and sixth in scoring, are expected to set the tone early for the Lady Spikers.
In men’s play, FEU attempts to edge closer to a first-round sweep as it battles Adamson at 11 a.m.
Riding their best start since the 2019 season, when the Jude Garcia-led team opened with seven straight wins, the Tamaraws are keen to sustain their impressive run.
Assistant coach Rene Dulay emphasized the team’s collective effort in maintaining their strong performance.
“With a 5-0 record, we’re still pushing ourselves to improve.”
“We’re well-prepared and following a structured program even though coach Ed [Orcullo] is not always around. He constantly provides guidance, and we strictly adhere to the plan to sustain our success.”
The day’s quadruple header kicks off at 9 a.m. with the Green Spikers taking on the Red Warriors.
For La Salle head coach Jose Roque, the team’s focus goes beyond physical training.
“Physically, we’re on track, but mentally and emotionally, we need to work harder. We’re trying to address this, and in terms of chemistry, we’re getting there.”
“We just haven’t fully showcased it yet, but we’re making progress.”
The Green Spikers look to sustain their momentum and secure another victory against struggling UE on Saturday also at the Mall of Asia Arena.