DEFENDING champion De La Salle and Ateneo, the protagonists in the last five championship series, clash in the final playdate of the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball eliminations at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today.
There’s nothing at stake, but still the Lady Spikers and the Lady Eagles, both tied at 11-2, rekindle their rivalry in this colossal clash at 4 p.m.
De La Salle and Ateneo have already been long assured of twice-to-beat slots in the Final Four, as the two squads are simply playing for the No. 1 and 2 rankings in the playoffs.
University of Santo Tomas hopes to complete the semifinal cast as it tackles National University at 12 noon.
With a 7-6 slate, the Lady Bulldogs need to win this one so badly in order to face the Tigresses (8-5) again in a do-or-die match on April 19 right after the observance of Easter.
Far Eastern University has already clinched the third Final Four slot even it ends up tied with UST and NU at 8-6 by virtue of superior rank points.
A victory by the Tigresses, however, will relegate the Lady Tamaraws as the No. 4 seed and will take on the winner of the Lady Eagles-Lady Spikers match in the Final Four.
Aside from avenging its 24-26, 24-26, 25-21, 17-25 loss in the first round, De La Salle needs this rematch with Ateneo to show its improvement of play after that setback.
Unbeaten in the second round, the Lady Spikers are expected to have last season’s Final MVP Kim Kianna Dy back after missing the previous match due to an ankle injury.
Super senior Kim Fajardo will lead De La Salle’s charge along with Majoy Baron, Tin Tiamzon, Desiree Cheng, Aduke Ogunsanya and libero Dawn Macandili.
Playmaker Jia Morado has been exceptional for the Lady Eagles all-season long.
In the men’s division, Ateneo seeks to jump straight to the Finals against National University at 8 a.m., followed by the UST-FEU clash at 10 a.m.
Tickets for the three earlier games (two men’s volleyball and first women’s volleyball), and the second women’s volleyball match will be sold separately.
Games today
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
8 a.m. – NU vs ADMU (Men)
10 a.m. – FEU vs UST (Men)
12 noon – UST vs NU (Women)
4 p.m. – ADMU vs DLSU (Women)
