By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Expect more surprises in the second-round of the UAAP women’s volleyball elimination after a series of reversals marked the first round.
Among those were the five-set upset triumph of cellar-dweller University of the East over darkhorse Adamson, the end of National University’s five-game winning run at the expense of Far Eastern University, and the surprising win of Adamson over defending champion La Salle.
For the eight squads, the real battle is just beginning.
“Iba na yung second round. Hindi na pwedeng mag-relax,” said NU’s Jaja Santiago, currently the top spiker in the league.
The Lady Bulldogs are currently leading the standings with a 6-1 win-loss record, followed by La Salle and FEU with similar 5-2 cards.
Ateneo and Adamson follow suit at 4-3 and 3-4, respectively, then UST and University of the Philippines at 2-5, and UE at 1-6.
“Ine-expect namin na lahat ng teams, tataas ang laro. Hindi lang kami yung maraming adjustments na gagawin,” said La Salle mentor Ramil De Jesus.
Though leading the service, digging and setting departments, the Lady Spikers are lacking of a consistent scorer.
UE’s victory over Adamson was an opener.
“Andun pa rin yung will namin para maglaro nang maayos, tapos dinagdagan pa ni Sir ng ‘hindi lang good, dapat win talaga,’” said UE’s Kath Arado, whose team ended a 13-game losing streak against Adamson under the coaching reins of UAAP Board Member Rod Roque.
Second-round action heats up tomorrow at The Arena in San Juan City with UE clashing with UST at 2 p.m., and FEU colliding with Ateneo at 4 p.m.
