FAR Eastern University seeks to wrap up a character-building three-match stretch with a victory as it faces Adamson University today (Saturday) in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Coach Tina Salak hopes for a good result in the 3 p.m. clash with the Lady Falcons, as the Lady Tamaraws try to solidify their hold on the third spot.
After surviving a five-setter to Ateneo, FEU posted its first winning streak of the season with a 25-23, 25-19, 25-20 win over University of the East last Wednesday.
“Malaking motivation din sa mga bata and of course, gusto rin namin improve pa ‘yung kung ano ang kulang namin today kasi ang marami paring lapses and i-improve namin– so dapat hindi kami dapat nagkukulang, dapat i-improve namin most especially doon sa mga small balls going against sa ibang teams sa UAAP ngayon, dapat nai-eliminate namin ‘yung mga errors na ganoon,” Salak said.
Adamson is currently tied with De La Salle in fourth place at 2-2 and is seeking to avoid its first losing streak of the season.
The Lady Tamaraws are bracing for what the Lady Falcons’ prolific rookie Shai Nitura, the currently No. 2 in scoring, can offer.
The Lady Spikers play the winless Lady Warriors at 1 p.m., with the 12-time champions eyeing to post their first back-to-back victory of the tournament.
Even with UE feeling the pinch of its shorthanded roster as it absorbed back-to-back straight-set losses to Adamson and FEU, Noel Orcullo, coach Ramil de Jesus’ trusted assistant, knows that the key is to play the right De La Salle volleyball way.
The Lady Warriors, still looking for their first win after a 0-5 start, are getting the needed numbers from Khy Cepada and Van Bangayan, and libero Ange Reyes doing everything on the defensive end, but these are not enough to tide them through.
“Hindi namin sya iti-take it lightly na kalaban since maraming nawala sa UE. ‘Yun yung lagi naming sinasabi sa mga bata, kahit maraming nawala, nakita niyo naman lumalaban. Hindi puwedeng baliwalain ang UE dahil every game laban sila. Kaya’t hanggang maaari, paghandaan, i-scout kung ano ‘yung dapat i-scout sa kanila,” said Orcullo.
Angel Canino and Shevana Laput, who are fifth and sixth in scoring, are expected to impose their will early to set the tone for the Lady Spikers.
In the men’s division, FEU tries to inch closer to sweeping the first round as it tangles with Adamson at 11 a.m.
As the Tamaraws are enjoying their finest start since the Jude Garcia-led squad opened the 2019 season with seven straight victories, assistant coach Rene Dulay wanted to see his troops to continue their heads-up showing after an impressive preseason campaign.
“Ang tingin namin, with a combined team effort, malaking factor ‘yon kasi with a 5-0 record, we’re still pushing para mas gumanda pa ‘yung performance namin in the next games… Well prepared kami, pinaghahandaan namin itong mabigat na stretch. May program kami na sinusunod even though coach Ed (Orcullo) can’t make it most of the time, nagssend siya ng kung ano gagawin namin. Sinusunod lang namin yung program niya para mamaintain yung success namin,” said Dulay.
Games Saturday
(SM Mall of Asia Arena)
9 a.m. – DLSU vs UE (Men)
11 a.m. – AdU vs FEU (Men)
1 p.m. – DLSU vs UE (Women)
3 p.m. – AdU vs FEU (Women)