DE LA SALLE and National University (NU) part ways in what could be a preview of the Finals of Season 80 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball action today at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Only one team will remain undefeated after the 4 p.m. clash between the early leaders who are unscathed in three matches.
Adamson University (2-1), meanwhile, shoots for its third straight win against a bounce back-seeking University of Santo Tomas (UST) (1-2) at 2 p.m.
But bad news for UST, Head Coach Kungfu Reyes might rest Milena Alessandrini for the rest of the first round because of a recurring shoulder injury. He could also miss libero Rica Rivera, who hurt her knee in the first set of their 25-16, 22-25, 22-25, 23-25 setback to Ateneo last week.
Thus, Reyes will be leaning on Cherry Rondina, Dimdim Pacres and Carla Sandoval when they face the Lady Falcons.
The De La Salle-NU match could go down into a chess battle between longtime Lady Spikers Head Coach Ramil de Jesus and first-time NU women’s mentor Babes Castillo, one of the most successful coaches in the high-school division.
“I don’t want to say this is a preview of the Finals because it’s too early to say that,” said de Jesus, whose wards beat UST, University of the Philippines and Far Eastern University. “For me, NU is the most complete team in the UAAP with the same core from last year, plus a new system under a new coach.”
“I think they are the most successful because 10 championships crowns is not a joke. ‘Hats off to coach Ramil. I saw how resilient his system is,” Castillo said, adding that they will employ the same strategy they used in beating Adamson University, Ateneo and University of the East. “We’re just here to challenge it.”
The matchup between Most Valuable Player Majoy Baron of De La Salle and the NU star she beat for the award last season, Jaja Santiago, will also be an interesting sidebar in today’s match.
In men’s play, NU (2-1) takes on De La Salle (1-2) at 8 a.m., while UST (2-1) battles Adamson University (1-2) at 10 a.m.