National University and University of Santo Tomas open their UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball Finals series at 4 p.m. today (Saturday) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Lady Bulldogs and the Tigresses, who finished 1-2 in the eliminations, split their head-to-head this season.
Coaches Norman Miguel and Kungfu Reyes are working double time in training before the opener, with the utmost importance of winning Game 1 to gain a huge psychological advantage in the series.
NU had a short preparation, as it needed to beat Far Eastern University twice in the Final Four to reach the championship round for the third straight year.
UST, on the other hand, unseated De La Salle in one game, in a five-set thriller to secure its first Finals stint since 2019.
“Siyempre nauna nga kami sa Finals so hinintay namin ‘yung game nila sabi nga namin kahit sino naman ang manalo diyan naka-ready naman kami,” said Reyes.
“We will play against a more veteran team sa amin ini-embrace naman namin ‘yun,” he added.
Powered by super rookie Angge Poyos and lefty sensation Jonna Perdido, the Tigresses went deeper this season by showing no fear in their game despite any disadvantages stacked against them.
“May series naman kami ng preseason tournament I think those leagues nakakatulong din especially itong UAAP ang haba ng liga nakarating kami ng Finals,” said Reyes.
“I think ito ‘yung maturity na dadalhin ng mga players, ‘yung experience saka iba ‘yung natake ng mga bata na naniniwala sila na talagang kaya nila ‘yun ang hindi namin pwedeng alisin o ni kahit sino na puwede nilang alisin sa mga bata na alam nilang kaya nila. ‘Yun ang isang pamato namin na naniniwala silang kaya nila kaya kami umabot hanggang dito sa dulo,” he added.
UST is gunn ing for a 15th title and the first since 2010 when the Shaq delos Santos-mentored squad last ruled the league behind Aiza Maizo and Ange Tabaquero.
Delos Santos returned to the Tigresses this season as part of Reyes’ coaching staff.
An interesting fact is Miguel was one of Delos Santos’ assistants in the Tigresses’ most recent championship run.
The Lady Bulldogs, with Season 84 Rookie-MVP Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon leading the charge to regain the throne, hoping to capitalize on their championship experience.
“Hindi basta-basta ang character ng UST. Sinimulan namin sa scouting through videos then from there, yung technical skills na kailangan naming i-work out para ma-counter namin sila,” said Miguel.
“Yung UST palaban sila. Talagang yung hunger nila sa paglalaro, talagang makikita mo pag naglalaro sila. Pero siguro hindi namin ba-beybihin yung laro. Kumbaga, ibibigay namin yung 100 percent effort namin para manalo and para mapahirapan sila,” said Belen.
“Kasi hindi nila ibibigay ang laro ng madalian and kailangan talagang mag-trabaho,” the do-it-all open spiker added.
The Bulldogs and the Golden Spikers clash in a rematch of last season’s Finals at 2 p.m.
Making its ninth straight championship appearance, NU is eyeing a four-peat and sixth title overall.
UST became the first No. 4 team to advance to the championship round in the Final Four era after beating No. 1 FEU twice.
The Golden Spikers defeated the Bulldogs twice in the eliminations.
