A share of second place is at stake when De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas face off in the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball tournament, Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Adding to the stakes is the shock loss of defending champion National University to the University of the Philippines last Wednesday, which assured that this season's Final 4 will take place in its traditional format.
Far Eastern University, which defeated University of the East also last Wednesday, currently sits in solo second with a 6-3 card.
The Lady Spikers and the Tigresses are coming in with identical 5-3 win-loss cards and are expected to go all out in their 5:00 p.m. showdown in a bid to catch up to the Lady Tamaraws.
"Kailangan lang namin matutunang mag-enjoy especially when we're up. Kapag gitgitan, at least meron kaming paghuhugutan sa mga situation na dapat mas matibay yung mga decision-making. Doon na kami nakafocus somehow sa maturity ng team as a whole," said coach Kungfu Reyes as UST tries to arrest a two-match slide.
The loser will drop to fourth place and will now only hold a one-game lead over the Fighting Maroons (4-5) in the race for the last Final Four spot.
With UP making a strong push for the No. 4 spot, Ateneo and Adamson University, both sporting 3-5 slates, are expected to play with a sense of urgency to remain in the Final Four chase at 1 p.m.
The Blue Eagles were coming off a week-long rest following an energy-sapping five-set win over the Fighting Maroons.
The Lady Falcons, on the other hand, opened the second round with a straight set romp of the Lady Warriors.
"It will be a good test for us because we are on the same path, and now we'll cross and clash for positioning. We need to think match by match, set by set, and point by point, and now our next match against Adamson is probably our most important game of the season. We need to think, focus, and prepare properly," said Ateneo coach Sergio Veloso.
Despite a challenging start of the Shai Nitura era, the Lady Falcons remain upbeat to have a better performance at this stage of the season to have a shot at the Final Four.
"Number one thing, we must hope for the best and then work hard for it. Kasi for me naman, walang imposible, we'll continually encourage lang yung mga bata to work for it talaga kasi doon kami magsstart ‘eh so that na every game, kaya namin ipanalo. We'll always rely also kung ano will ni Lord for this team kasi marami kami natutunan sa mga nangyayari, but we'll still hope for the best and kailangan namin na we'll give our best everytime rin," Adamson coach JP Yude said.
In the men's division, De La Salle and UST, separated by one game in the race for the No. 4 spot, clash in the 9 a.m. opener.
Ateneo, also a game ahead of UST, plays Adamson at 11 a.m.
The Green Spikers and the Blue Eagles are in joint third at 5-3, while the Golden Spikers, who are mired on a three-match skid, are now outside the top four range with a 4-4 slate.
"Paghahandaan namin every game, kahit pa natatalo UST over the past games, alam namin kalibre nila kaya paghahandaan namin. We make plans for every game and we see to it na mareach yung gusto namin mangyari. No expectations namin, basta expect na we'll fight for every point sa laro na 'yon," said De La Salle coach Jose Roque.
Coach Vince Mangulabnan, on the other hand, is pushing his troops very hard as he tries to steer Ateneo back to the Final Four after missing the bus in the past two seasons.
"Sabi ko nga sa kanila na this past week, hindi na tayo uulit or we won't make the same mistake of the past two years. Every game, aaralin namin nang maigi. Every game, nakafocus kami on the game itself. Sabi rin nila na pagttrabahuan namin bawat game para sa Final Four kasi nung past two years, nakafocus kami agad sa dulo 'eh. Pag nakatingin ka kasi sa dulo, madadapa at madadapa ka talaga. Pero ngayon, yung bumpy roads na papagdadaanan namin, sama-sama naming dadaanan ito," said Mangulabnan.
At 2-6, the Falcons are three games out of the last Final Four slot, but coach Raffy Mosuela is not giving up on the season.
"Yung mga previous games namin na mga 'almost,' doon ako tumitingin ng positive na kailangan namin puro polishing na lang para yung mga 'almost' na iyon, makuha na namin yung game or yung set. Yung consistency lang talaga across sa every individual skill need namin to get over the hump," said Mosuela.
