S87 Collegiate Volleyball: Ateneo-UE, FEU-La Salle match-ups set

UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Volleyball Standings

Women
**NU 11 2
*DLSU 9 4
*UST 9 4
*FEU 8 5
UP 6 7
AdU 5 8
Ateneo 4 9
UE 0 13

Men
**FEU 12 1
**NU 11 2
*UST 9 4
*DLSU 9 4
Ateneo 6 7
UP 3 10
AdU 2 11
UE 0 13

*Final Four
**Twice-to-beat

Games on Saturday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
9 a.m. – Ateneo vs UE (Men)
11 a.m. – FEU vs DLSU (Men)
1 p.m. – Ateneo vs UE (Women)
3 p.m. – FEU vs DLSU (Women)

DE LA SALLE hopes to get the job done against Far Eastern University and keenly await for the result of the National University-University of Santo Tomas duel to determine its fate of securing the remaining twice-to-beat slot in the UAAP Season 87 Women's Volleyball Final Four in the final weekend of the eliminations at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Lady Spikers shoot for their 10th win in the 3 p.m. clash with the Lady Tamaraws on Saturday, April 26, 2025, and hope for a Lady Bulldogs victory over the Tigresses Sunday to avoid any complications of a playoff for the No. 2 spot.

De La Salle and UST are in joint second with 9-5 records. If both teams hurdle their final elims assignments, the two traditional powerhouses will duke it out in a playoff for the other twice-to-beat berth in a virtual best-of-three series.

That's why the Lady Spikers were locked in as of late, as they try to avoid getting dragged into the lower half of the Final Four.

"Iyon nga, yung paalala lang namin sa kanila nung natalo kami sa UP, these last two games, sobrang importante at it's a must win para sa amin. Kailangan trabahuin nila lahat 'yon, isa-isa, hanggang sa makuha namin. Kailangan lang namin panghawakan sa sarili namin na gusto namin manalo talaga," said assistant coach Noel Orcullo after La Salle nipped Adamson University in five sets last Sunday.

("That’s what we reminded them after we lost to UP—these last two games are extremely important and must-win matches for us. They need to work for every point, one step at a time, until we get there. We just have to hold on to that desire within ourselves—that we really want to win.")

FEU sits in fourth place with an 8-5 record, and a loss will seal a rematch of last year's Final Four against NU, which at 11-2 has already clinched the No. 1 ranking and the twice-to-beat incentive.

Even with a win over the Lady Spikers, the Lady Tamaraws will kiss their slim hopes of securing a playoff for the No. 2 spot goodbye if the Tigresses beat the Lady Bulldogs.

A triple tie between De La Salle, UST, and FEU at 9-5 will further muddle up the race for the No. 2 spot. In the ranking points tiebreaker, the Lady Spikers and the Tigresses currently have 27 points, while the Lady Tamaraws are at 24.

Ateneo and University of the East seek to close out their campaigns on a winning note in the other women's match at 1 p.m.

In the men's division, FEU and De La Salle clash in a potential Final Four preview at 11 a.m.

As they wind up the eliminations, the Tamaraws, who are already assured of the No. 1 ranking and the twice-to-beat bonus, are working to improve their game as they brace for the Final Four.

"Siguro dapat yung sinasabi nila na marami pa pwede puliduhin. Hindi naman kami tumitigil 'eh. Ang kailangan lang talaga gawin, yung moment na pag ginagawa namin, isa-isip namin at isa-puso namin yung ginagawa. Hindi lang basta nagawa yung task. Siguro, trabaho pa talaga," FEU coach Eddieson Orcullo said.

("Maybe it's true what they're saying—that there's still a lot we can polish. But it's not like we're stopping. What we really need to do is, in every moment that we're doing something, we have to put our minds and hearts into it. It's not just about completing the task. Maybe, it’s really still about doing the work.")

The Green Spikers, sporting a 9-4 record, are hoping to close out the elims strong. A win by De La Salle, coupled with a NU victory over UST on Sunday, April 27, 2025, will give the Taft-based side the No. 3 slot.

"I think nandoon naman siguro kami, it's just that adjusting to what we want na in preparation for the Final Four. Siyempre hindi naman ganoon kaagad-agad 'yon, I'm confident na maiintindihan ng team ko yung what we wanted sa sistema namin talaga," said Green Spikers coach Jose Roque.

"May mga times kasi na we need to adjust talaga, like nagpapalit ako ng mga tao, giving them some time to play and experience the court. Para at least pagdating ng semifinals, medyo fresh kami always. Adjusting to the lineup, siguro nandoon yung hindi katatag pa yung tingin nila sa sarili," he added.

("I think we're already there, it's just that we're still adjusting to what we want in preparation for the Final Four. Of course, it doesn’t happen right away, but I’m confident that my team will understand what we really want in our system. There are times when we really need to make adjustments, like when I rotate players—giving them time to play and experience the court. That way, when we reach the semifinals, we'll always be relatively fresh. In terms of adjusting the lineup, maybe that’s where they still don’t fully see themselves as solid or consistent.")

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team