By Kristel Satumbaga
Games Today
(The Arena, San Juan City)
8 a.m. – Adamson vs Ateneo (men’s)
10 a.m. – UP vs NU (men’s)
2 p.m. – Adamson vs Ateneo (women’s)
4 p.m. – UP vs NU (women’s)
Ateneo tries to strengthen its hold of the top spot when it clashes with Adamson today in UAAP women’s volleyball at The Arena in San Juan City.
A victory for the Lady Eagles in their 2 p.m. tussle with the Lady Falcons would extend their winning run to five games and improve their 4-1 win-loss record.
Ateneo coach Oliver Almadro is confident that his player will dish out the same firepower and poise they displayed in their recent 25-21, 25-16, 28-26 win over University of the Philippines last Sunday, where they Lady Eagles took advantage of the Lady Maroons’ lackluster effort.
Kat Tolentino and Maddie Madayag are expected to lead Ateneo on both ends after combining for 26 points the last time, while help is set to come from Pau Gaston after making her presence felt against UP with 10 points.
Almadro is also looking for another sterling show from setter Deanna Wong.
The amiable Ateneo mentor said she has been pushing the 20-year-old Cebuana “to be the best setter that she is.”
Adamson, meanwhile, hopes to regain its bearings from a hard-fought 25-18, 17-25, 25-14, 22-25, 15-8 loss to Far Eastern University that pulled them down the near bottom at 1-4 in a tie National University.
Currently the best blocking team in the league, Adamson needs to maintain its composure in crucial moments to stop Ateneo’s strong spikers.
Bernadette Flora and Christine Soyud hope to spearhead Adamson’s charge along with Tonnie Rose Ponce and Joy Dacoron.
Meanwhile, UP and NU seeks to gain lost ground when they face at 4 p.m.
The Lady Maroons are still reeling from a tough loss to Ateneo while the Lady Bulldogs bowed to University of Santo Tomas in four sets last Saturday.
The Lady Maroons are sporting a 3-2 card.
