ATENEO hopes to get another payback, this time against National University today in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
The Lady Eagles suffered a five-set defeat at the hands of the Lady Bulldogs last Feb. 7 that dropped them at 0-2 – the team’s worst start in the coach Tai Bundit era.
The 4 p.m. match is crucial, as Ateneo is eyeing to force a three-way tie in second place and to keep within striking distance of defending champion La Salle.
“The second round is a fresh start for us. Siguro, ngayon we just need to show how we can really play and focus as much as we can,” said Lady Eagles team captain Maddie Madayag.
University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas, two teams nursing slim Final Four hopes, clash in the first game at 2 p.m.
Sporting a 5-3 record, Ateneo is trailing NU (5-2) by a full game in the race for the second twice-to-beat slot in the Final Four.
Coming off a 25-27, 25-27, 16-25 loss to the Lady Spikers a week ago, the fears of another second round meltdown by the Lady Bulldogs were raised.
NU’s character will be truly tested once more, as the Bustillos-based spikers are aching to erase the stigma of the debacles in the last two seasons.
The Lady Bulldogs simply need to capitalize on the Lady Eagles’ fragile reception game if they want to complete an elimination round head-to-head sweep.
Jaja Santiago, currently the third-best leading scorer in the elims, will also provide the leadership NU needs especially when the chips are down.
It has been a frustrating campaign so far for the Lady Maroons and the Tigresses.
At 3-6, UP is two-and-a-half games out of the last Final Four spot, as it cannot afford to drop a game from now on if coach Godfrey Okumu’s side want to stay in the hunt.
Mired on a six-game losing skid, not even a sweep of their remaining elimination round matches could guarantee last-placed UST (2-7) a playoff for the No. 4 spot.
In the men’s division, titleholder Ateneo (8-1) shoots for the first Final Four slot against FEU (6-2) at 10 a.m., right after UP (3-5) and Adamson University (3-6) cross paths at 8 a.m.