NATIONAL University shoots for a third consecutive Finals appearance as it tangles a Far Eastern University side hoping to relish its Final Four return after five years in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Saturday.
The Lady Bulldogs’ focus is using the twice-to-beat protection wisely, by getting the job done in the 4 p.m. clash with the Lady Tamaraws.
“Kapag narinig kasi ‘yung twice-to-beat, parang nakakagaan siya sa pakiramdam ng mga player. Pero ‘yun nga, hindi dapat kami umabot sa puntong magagamit namin ‘yung twice-to-beat,” said skipper Bella Belen.
“Maganda lang siyang pakinggan sa mga player na ang sarap sa pakiramdam na twice-to-beat tayo kasi parang may suporta na nangyayari, pero hindi na namin papahantungin doon,” the Season 84 Rookie MVP added.
NU finished the eliminations with a 12-2 record highlighted by a second-round sweep to become the top-ranked team.
The other Final Four duel pits traditional rivals University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle which is set Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Tigresses also have a 12-2 record, but with the inferior points against the Lady Bulldogs, 34-36, in the first tiebreaker, coach Kungfu Reyes’ side settled for No. 2.
The Lady Spikers’ bid for title No. 13 is in peril after ending up in third place in the eliminations with an 11-3 slate.
UST secured the twice-to-beat bonus after beating De La Salle, 22-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-15, on the final day of elims last April 27.
After a one-win campaign in the league’s restart in 2022 and a fifth-place finish with a 5-9 record last year, FEU finally reached the Final Four, winning nine games with Congo’s Faida Bakanke leading the way.
The Lady Tamaraws’ biggest triumph of the season was a five-set thriller against the then league-leading Tigresses last April 13.
FEU is 0-2 to NU in their elimination round head-to-head, but the Final Four is entirely a different story.
For coach Manolo Refugia, the long break prior to the Final Four will help the Lady Tamaraws thoroughly break down the tendencies of the Lady Bulldogs.
“Siguro mag focus muna kami doon sa unang game talaga. Talagang ibuhos muna doon yung focus namin, ‘yung paniniwala namin na kaya naman, na kailangan talaga ‘yung pasensiya namin sa bawa’t isa para maibigay namin ‘yung best,” Refugia said.
FEU last made it to the Final Four in 2019, pushing eventual champion Ateneo to a do-or-die match before losing.
In the men’s division, holder NU is in an unfamiliar territory.
Dragged in a playoff for No. 2, the Bulldogs play the Green Spikers, with the winner of the 2 p.m. match snatching the twice-to-beat advantage in their Final Four showdown next week. Both teams ended up tied at 11-3 in the elims.
The top-ranked Tamaraws and the No. 4 Golden Spikers renew their rivalry in the other half of the Final Four at 2 p.m. Sunday FEU topped the eliminations with a 12-2 card while UST wound up fourth at 8-6.
NATIONAL University shoots for a third consecutive Finals appearance as it tangles a Far Eastern University side hoping to relish its Final Four return after five years in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Saturday.
The Lady Bulldogs’ focus is using the twice-to-beat protection wisely, by getting the job done in the 4 p.m. clash with the Lady Tamaraws.
“Kapag narinig kasi ‘yung twice-to-beat, parang nakakagaan siya sa pakiramdam ng mga player. Pero ‘yun nga, hindi dapat kami umabot sa puntong magagamit namin ‘yung twice-to-beat,” said skipper Bella Belen.
“Maganda lang siyang pakinggan sa mga player na ang sarap sa pakiramdam na twice-to-beat tayo kasi parang may suporta na nangyayari, pero hindi na namin papahantungin doon,” the Season 84 Rookie MVP added.
NU finished the eliminations with a 12-2 record highlighted by a second-round sweep to become the top-ranked team.
The other Final Four duel pits traditional rivals University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle which is set Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Tigresses also have a 12-2 record, but with the inferior points against the Lady Bulldogs, 34-36, in the first tiebreaker, coach Kungfu Reyes’ side settled for No. 2.
The Lady Spikers’ bid for title No. 13 is in peril after ending up in third place in the eliminations with an 11-3 slate.
UST secured the twice-to-beat bonus after beating De La Salle, 22-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-15, on the final day of elims last April 27.
After a one-win campaign in the league’s restart in 2022 and a fifth-place finish with a 5-9 record last year, FEU finally reached the Final Four, winning nine games with Congo’s Faida Bakanke leading the way.
The Lady Tamaraws’ biggest triumph of the season was a five-set thriller against the then league-leading Tigresses last April 13.
FEU is 0-2 to NU in their elimination round head-to-head, but the Final Four is entirely a different story.
For coach Manolo Refugia, the long break prior to the Final Four will help the Lady Tamaraws thoroughly break down the tendencies of the Lady Bulldogs.
“Siguro mag focus muna kami doon sa unang game talaga. Talagang ibuhos muna doon yung focus namin, ‘yung paniniwala namin na kaya naman, na kailangan talaga ‘yung pasensiya namin sa bawa’t isa para maibigay namin ‘yung best,” Refugia said.
FEU last made it to the Final Four in 2019, pushing eventual champion Ateneo to a do-or-die match before losing.
In the men’s division, holder NU is in an unfamiliar territory.
Dragged in a playoff for No. 2, the Bulldogs play the Green Spikers, with the winner of the 2 p.m. match snatching the twice-to-beat advantage in their Final Four showdown next week. Both teams ended up tied at 11-3 in the elims.
The top-ranked Tamaraws and the No. 4 Golden Spikers renew their rivalry in the other half of the Final Four at 2 p.m. Sunday FEU topped the eliminations with a 12-2 card while UST wound up fourth at 8-6.
