MANILA, Philippines – The Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles will look to move closer to earning a twice-to-beat bonus in the Final Four when they play the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 79 women's volleyball tournament on Wednesday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
NU gave Ateneo its lone loss of the season so far, a 25-17, 25-13, 19-25, 29-27 result last February 8. Since then, however, the Lady Eagles have won eight straight games, and they own the league's best record at 9-1.
The Lady Eagles will again rely on star playmaker Jia Morado and capable hitters Jhoana Maraguinot, Michelle Morente, Bea de Leon, and Kat Tolentino.
"Kay Coach Tai (Bundit), walang Final 4, walang 8-1, walang 9-1," said Ateneo assistant coach Sherwin Meneses. "Step by step talaga siya, at every game talaga, pinaghahandaan niya, pnaghahandaan namin."
[For Coach Tai Bundit, there is no Final 4, no 8-1, no 9-1. We take it step by step, and we prepare for every game.]
Ateneo showed its grit and character last Saturday, when they averted a collapse in a 25-20, 25-22, 17-25, 21-25, 15-8 victory over Far Eastern University (FEU).
NU, meanwhile, is coming off a 25-15, 25-21, 22-25, 25-21 win against University of the East. It was a contest that saw the Lady Bulldogs improve to 6-4, tied for third place along with University of Santo Tomas.
However, the match also exposed the holes in NU's defense as coach Roger Gorayeb opted not to play his liberos in the fourth set, instead risking middle blockers Jaja Santiago and Risa Sato in the back line.
"Kailangan 'yung kumpiyansa namin, bumalik. Kaya ang sabi ko, hangga't nandiyan kayo sa loob, nandiyan ang tiwala ko sa inyo. Iyon ang aking basehan," Gorayeb said of his message to his players.
[Our confidence has to return. I keep telling the girls that for as long as they are inside the court, that means I trust them.]
The Lady Bulldogs are two games behind De La Salle University for the No. 2 spot, and just one game ahead of joint fifth placers FEU and University of the Philippines (UP).
At this point in the season, Gorayeb said their focus is on keeping their Final 4 hopes alive.
"Ang gusto ko lang ngayon, ipanalo namin itong huling limang laro namin," he said.
"Bakbakan na kami diyan, kasi hindi na namin maalis ang No. 1 at No. 2," Gorayeb also said, referring to Ateneo and La Salle. "We have to accept the truth, accept the fact na mahihirapan na kami pumasok sa No. 2."
[We need to win our last five games. I doubt we can unseat the No. 1 or the No. 2 team. We have to accept the truth, accept the fact that we are unlikely to get the second seed.]
Game time is at 4 p.m.
UP has lost five of its last six matches since a 4-0 start, and they cannot afford to relax against an Adamson team that snatched a set against UST in their game last Saturday.
In the men's division, reigning champion Ateneo will take on Adamson at 10 a.m., seeking to go 11-0 in the tournament. FEU and UE open the day's slate of games at 8 a.m.
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