UNDEFEATED University of Santo Tomas (UST) eyes its fourth straight victory against University of the Philippines (UP) in the main game of the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Reinforced Conference on Monday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
The Tigresses and the Lady Maroons face off at 6 p.m. right after the match between Pocari Sweat Philippine Coast Guard at 4 p.m.
UST is surprisingly at the top of the standings, winning its first three games, the last one against BaliPure, 21-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-13. BaliPure played with imports Katherine Morelle and setter Kaylee Manns on Saturday.
Tigresses Head Coach Kungfu Reyes is satisfied with the team’s progress.
“Tinatrabaho lang namin talaga,” Reyes said. “This time mayroon kami pinakikitang medyo ibang level na ang UST as a team. Hindi as individual player, kumbaga ‘yung character as a whole, ‘yun na ‘yung dine-develop namin.”
Skipper Pam Lastimosa, EJ Laure, Carla Sandoval, Ria Meneses, Chloe Cortez and setter Alex Cabanos are expected to lead the charge of the Tigresses, as they size up the UP side bannered by Isa Molde, Diana Carlos, Kathy Bersola and Nicole Tiamzon.
Cherry Rondina, who powered UST to a beach volleyball crown in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 79, is expected to return for the Tigresses.
The Lady Maroons seek to improve their 1-1 card after barging in the win column on Saturday, beating Coast Guard in straight sets, 25-10, 25-19, 25-15.
Meanwhile, Pocari Sweat, the champion of the Open Conference, shoots for its first win against cellar-dweller Coast Guard, which has yet to win a single game after three outings.
The Lady Warriors lost in their opening game, suffering a five-set setback to Open Conference Finals rival Air Force, 20-25, 25-22, 7-25, 25-22, 12-15, last week.
Skipper Michele Gumabao said the team still lacks chemistry and killer instincts.
“A bad game is a bad game. It’s our first game, I mean, it’s a long way to go, we’re not gonna dwell too much,” Gumabao said. “Whatever happens we’re one team and we’ve been through worse and I know we could bounce back.”
Gumabao hopes that the loss to Air Force should serve as a wake-up call for the team, to be bannered by Myla Pablo, Elaine Kasilag, Melissa Gohing and Filipina-American setter Iris Tolenada, as well as imports Breanna Mackie and Andrea Kacsits.
“That loss was our fault, but the good side about it is we know how to change it and we know what to change. We know what to do, we just have to do better for our part in the next game,” the ex-La Salle standout said.
In Spikers’ Turf, reigning Reinforced titlist Cignal and Open Conference champion Air Force renew their rivalry at 12:30 p.m.