Standings W L

Women

*DLSU 12 1
*NU 10 3
*AdU 9 4
*UST 9 4
FEU 6 7
Ateneo 4 9
UP 1 12
UE 1 12

Games today
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
9 a.m. – NU vs Ateneo (Men)
11 a.m. – NU vs Ateneo (Women)
3 p.m. – UE vs DLSU (Women)
5 p.m. – UE vs DLSU (Men)

OUT of contention for the Final Four round, Ateneo simply has to go with the motion while defending champion National University is hard-pressed to snatch the remaining twice-to-beat slot in the next round as they tangle today, Saturday (29 April 2023) in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

Everyone expects the Lady Bulldogs to go all-out in their 11 a.m. duel with the Blue Eagles to seal the deal and clinch the incentive that goes with it.

To avoid further complications, victory is the key, the only way.

At present NU flashes a 10-3 record, a game ahead of closest pursuers Adamson and the University of Santo Tomas.

The Lady Falcons and the Tigresses are bunched on the third spot holding identical 9-4 win-loss slates.

Far Eastern U (6-7), Ateneo (4-9), the University of the Philippines (1-12), and the University of the East (1-12) are already out of contention for the next round.

League-leading La Salle (12-1) and assure of the No. 1 spot, plays the University of the East at 3 p.m. in a warm-up of sorts for its Final Four appearance.

Actually, the Lady Falcons and the Tigresses are both hoping for a Lady Bulldogs defeat to keep their hopes alive for a playoff for No. 2.

And that is exactly the reason why NU cannot afford any miscues in its elimination round finale.

On the final day of eliminations tomorrow, Adamson will take on Far Eastern University, while UST will go up against the University of the Philippines.

Ateneo will be missing the Final Four for the first time this year since the 2008-09 season.

“Yung galaw po namin ngayon, alam namin na meron pa ring kulang. Meron talaga,” said rookie Vangie Alinsug after the Lady Bulldogs’ 25-19, 22-25, 25-18, 25-21 conquest of the Tigresses last Wednesday.

“Pero sa susunod na game, meron kaming mga araw para pagtrabahuan iyon para magawa namin yung kailangan naming gawin at hindi lang mawala yung enjoyment sa loob ng court,” she added.

Noel Orcullo, coach Ramil de Jesus’ ever-trusted assistant, said that it would be good for the Lady Spikers to finish the elimination round with a victory against an inspired Lady Warriors side coming off a 16-25, 25-21, 26-24, 19-25, 15-12 win over the Fighting Maroons that ended a 12-match losing streak.

La Salle is only waiting for which team will end up as the fourth-ranked team.

“Yung paghahanda sa last game namin nandoon pa rin. Nandoon ‘yung respeto. We have to end the second round on a high note,” said Orcullo after the Lady Spikers swept the Blue Eagles, 25-22, 25-19, 25-18, last Sunday.

“Kailangang reading-ready kami pagdating ng semifinals,” she added.

UE, which already matched its one-win output last year, is ready to give La Salle a good fight to finish its season strong.

“Alam naming sila ang nandoon sa itaas, kami ang nasa bottom. Wala ring mawawala if we play our best and who knows? Sabi bilog naman ang bola eh. And yung Warriors, tipong palaban. Kahit No. 1 iyan sa standings, malay mo makapuwing kami, di ba?” said coach Jumbo Dimaculangan.