La Salle and University of the East lock horns with both teams determined to inch closer to a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship on Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Action in the lone Pool E match of the triple-header feature is set at 2 p.m. with the Lady Spikers and Lady Warriors riding the crest of their second round opening day victories.
Clashing at 11 a.m. are University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University while the other Pool F pairing pits Ateneo de Manila University against University of the Philippines at 5 p.m. to cap a packed playdate of the tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, GCash, Chery Tiggo, F2 Logistics, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, R and B Milk Tea and Summit Water.
La Salle marches into battle beaming with confidence following a sweet 32-30, 14-25, 25-22, 25-21, revenge win over inaugural championship tormentor National University last Sunday.
The Lady Spikers behind the battle-tested duo of Angel Canino and Shevana Laput turned back the three-peat-seeking Lady Bulldogs in their first SSL meeting since the 2022 winner-take-all title match of the prestigious tournament, which has Smart Sports, PLDT Fibr, Mikasa, Asics, Rebel Sports, Eurotel, Victory Liner, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), and SM Tickets as technical partners.
La Salle is on a four-game romp following a sweep of the first round and will come into the game as favorites, however, UE is no pushover team.
The Lady Warriors swept the reigning NCAA champion College of Saint Benilde, 25-19, 25-18, 25-23, to bounce back from a disappointing five-set loss to the Growling Tigresses to end the first round.
UE stars Casiey Dongallo, Jelai Gajero and KC Cepada are sure to give Canino and the rest of the Lady Spikers fits in the explosive match.
On the other hand, UST shoots to close in on a quarters incentive against debuting FEU in their rescheduled clash following the postponement of games Friday due to inclement weather brought by severe tropical storm Kristine.
The Tigresses opened the round with a sweep of the Blue Eagles last Sunday to remain unscathed after five outings overall.
The Lady Tamaraws will return to action following a two-week break after a three-game sweep of the first round.