The National University (NU) and De La Salle University (DLSU) are both determined to keep their respective titles in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 collegiate volleyball tournament which will start on Feb. 17 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
NU is eyeing its fifth consecutive men's crown and coach Dante Alinsunurin knows his players are eager to achieve that goal.
"We just have to continue our good performance last year. I always remind my players to do their best," Alinsunurin said during the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 collegiate volleyball press conference at the Coral Way Lobby of the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Monday.
The DLSU Lady Spikers, on the other hand, are gunning for their 13th title overall.
"We'll try to keep the title," La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo said. "We're the defending champion so all the teams are after us."
Also present were Ateneo women's head coach Sergio Veloso, Far Eastern University coach Manolo Refugia, Adamson assistant coach Bang Pineda, NU team manager Gelina Luceño, University of Santo Tomas assistant coach Yani Fernandez, University of the Philippines coach Oliver Almadro and University of the East coach Jerry Yee.
Other sports calendared in the league's second semester are collegiate football, baseball, softball, fencing, tennis, 3x3 basketball, exhibition events in esports, and a demonstration event for junior high school basketball.
"The UAAP continues to evolve, and we are thrilled to present a dynamic second-semester sports lineup. These events showcase the talent, determination, and sportsmanship of our student-athletes. We invite fans to join us on this exciting journey and witness the incredible feats that our universities bring to the playing field," UAAP President Rodrigo Roque of UE said.
UAAP women's volleyball games will be held on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays -- two in the men's division (starting at 10 a.m.) and two in the women's division (commencing at 2 p.m.) per playdate.
All matches will be shown live and exclusively on the UAAP Varsity Channel, One Sports, and Pilipinas Live.
"We are excited to continue our commitment to bringing top-notch sports entertainment to Filipino homes. Following the unprecedented coverage of the High School Volleyball and Basketball tournaments, we are thrilled to extend our partnership with the UAAP to deliver the collegiate volleyball excitement to a wider audience on multiple platforms," Cignal TV and MediaQuest President and CEO Jane Basas said.
