By MARK REY MONTEJO
Games Wednesday
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
9 a.m. – NU vs Ateneo (men’s)
11 a.m. – NU vs Ateneo (women’s)
3 p.m. – UP vs FEU (men’s)
5 p.m. – UP vs FEU (women’s)
Three teams, led by defending champion National University, are out to follow up their impressive opening-game victories on Wednesday, Feb. 19, in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The Lady Bulldogs aim to display the same discipline and firepower in their 11 a.m. duel against the Ateneo Lady Eagles, while the Lady Tamaraws are also looking to keep their momentum going when they collide with the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons at 5 p.m.
Despite making a statement three-set win over De La Salle at the jampacked Mall of Asia Arena last weekend, NU coach Sherwin Meneses said they are taking it “one point at a time.”
“Talagang sasabihin namin na ‘one point at a time’ lang kasi yung champion, past na yun, kaya dapat trabahuhin yung pag-defend ng crown. Hindi basta-basta,” said Meneses, who is returning in the collegiate scene since leaving Adamson in 2016.
“So, everytime makaka-one point kami, mas dumadali yung pag-defend ng crown. Ganun lang muna kasimple yung target namin. Any opponent, nasa lower man o nasa higher rank,” he added.
Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon are expected to carry the Lady Bulldogs’ cudgels anew after combining for 27 points the last time, while reinforcements are set to come from Alex Mata, Vange Alinsug, Erin Pangilinan, Sheena Toring, and Minierva Maaya.
But Ateneo, which hopes to bounce back from a tough five-set loss to Adamson also last weekend, is banking on skipper Lyann De Guzman, AC Miner, Tak Fujimoto, JLo Delos Santos and Zel Tsunashima.
Like NU, FEU is also out to write a fitting sequel to a four-set victory over University of Santo Tomas last Saturday, Feb. 15, with Congolese Faida Bakanke, Gerzel Petallo and Jean Asis leading the charge.
The Lady Tamaraws, however, expect a rough sailing as the Fighting Maroons are also coming off a hard-fought five-set win over the University of the East Lady Warriors on the same day.
Out lead UP are rookie Kianne Olango, Joan Monares, Irah Jaboneta and Niña Ytang.
Meanwhile in the men’s division, Ateneo (1-0) battles NU (1-0) at 9 a.m. while UP and FEU tangle at 3 p.m.
