S87 Collegiate Volleyball: Final Four match-ups set

Games Saturday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
10 a.m. – NU vs UST (Men Final Four)
12 noon – FEU vs DLSU (Men Final Four)
2 p.m. – FEU vs NU (Women Final Four)
6 p.m. – DLSU vs UST (Women Final Four)

NATIONAL University and De La Salle, holding the twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four, seek to get the job done against lower-ranked foes on Saturday in the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The top-ranked Lady Bulldogs take on No. 4 Far Eastern University clash at 2 p.m., as the defending champions hope to avoid a repeat of last year's defeat to the Lady Tamaraws in the first game before winning the decider to advance.

The tables have been turned for the Tigresses in their 6 p.m. duel with La Salle, as UST is staring a twice-to-beat disadvantage this season after losing to the Taft-based side in last Wednesday's playoff for No. 2.

For reigning MVP Bella Belen, things won't be easy for NU despite holding a Final Four incentive, as FEU showed that it can beat to best. The Lady Tamaraws stunned the Lady Spikers in their elimination round finale to gain a confidence booster against the Lady Bulldogs.

"Alam naman namin na hindi siya magiging madali talaga, lalo na lahat… ‘yung apat na iyon may chance na maging champion. So kami, siguro, kung papaano kami magtatrabaho, kung papaano po namin i-ma-maintain ‘yung competitiveness, ‘yung tipong hindi po napapasobra, kailangan sakto lang. And, ano…marami pang kailangan pagtrabahuhan ‘yung team, ngayon po may scouting… ganyan… so kailangan mag-adjust kung sino man ‘yung kalaban namin," said Belen.

("We know that it won't be easy, especially since all four teams have a chance to be champions. For us, it's about how we work, how we maintain our competitiveness—ensuring we don't go overboard, but stay just right. And, well... there's still a lot of work to do. The team is focusing on scouting, and we need to adjust to whoever our opponent is.")

Alyssa Solomon, who stoned herself from a disappointing showing in the first Final Four match against FEU last year by stepping up in the decider, is determined not to give the Lady Tamaraws an inch.

"Siyempre as seniors, kami yung taga-remind sa team na kailangan hindi mawala yung fire ba sa paglalaro lalo na sa training pag may minsan tinatamad-tamad, kino-call out agad para aware sya na ganoon yung ginagawa niya sa training. And then after naman non, yun, lumalabas na yung laro niya and yung kung paano talaga siya mag-training. So yun po, remind lang po talaga," said Solomon.

("Of course, as seniors, we are the ones reminding the team that we must not lose the fire in our playing, especially in training when some may be feeling lazy. We immediately call them out to make them aware of what they're doing in training. After that, their game comes out, and they show how they truly train. So, it's really just about reminders.")

Facing NU for the second straight season in the Final Four, FEU is working double time to polish its plays and meticulously study its foes' tendencies to stand a chance of reaching the Finals.

The top blocking team in the elims, the Lady Tamaraws, know that they are capable of weathering the Lady Bulldogs, the league's best attacking squad, and also the No. 1 in digging and setting.

"Ending natin, yung games namin ng elimination, maganda naman yung naging lesson ng elimination round sa amin. Maganda rin baunin yung experiences and also yung mga lessons sa elimination. More, for me, yung focus namin, yung block and defense namin. More on talaga sa technical and tactical yung gagamitin namin ngayon na iiimprove namin," said FEU coach Tina Salak.

("Looking back at our games in the elimination round, there were valuable lessons we learned. It's good to carry those experiences and lessons with us. For me, it's about focusing on our blocking and defense. We're really going to focus on the technical and tactical aspects, and we'll continue to improve on them.")

All eyes are on the Tigresses on how they will respond to the defeat to the Lady Spikers that cost them the Final Four bonus, as they need to win twice to make it.

"May kasamang gigil… ‘yung di pa nagstart alam na mananalo kami, kumbaga talunin namin sa ano… mindset pa lang alam na namin na kaya namin talunin. Those things bitbit na yon, kasama ng lahat hardwork, kasama ng lahat ng sacrifices, ibinigay namin. Especially, ‘yung mga player na ito ayun ‘yung bibitbitin namin para sa Thomasian community na nagtitiwala, regardless kung ano yung lineup namin. Humina man lineup namin, o lumakas man lineup namin. Talagang ilalaban namin ang UST hanggang dulo. Kami ang pipiliin lagi," said coach Kungfu Reyes.

("There's a certain intensity... even before the game starts, we already know we're going to win. Just the mindset alone tells us that we can beat them. Those things are carried with us, along with all the hard work and sacrifices we've made. Especially for the players—this is what we will carry for the Thomasian community who trusts us, regardless of what our lineup is. Whether it's weaker or stronger, we will fight for UST until the end. We will always choose to fight.")

For De La Salle, the victory last Wednesday was some sort of a statement that it was able get over the hump after all the second round struggles, which include a late elimination round defeat against University of the Philippines.

The Lady Spikers went to their old trademark, blocking, that frustrated the Tigresses, tallying a season-high tying 20 blocks.

"Yung past two losses namin, ayun nga yung sinasabi namin sa kanila na ito nangyari yan, ito ngayon dumaan tayo sa playoff, kung tayo ang papalarin destiny natin ito. Kailangan lang panghawakan natin kung ano yung dapat nating gawin na kailangan nating manalo, gustuhin natin so siguro, sabi ko nga, sabi nga namin, nasasainyo yan kung pano nyo dadalhin yung team kung saan. Kung dadalhin nyo sa Finals, kayo yan. Kayo yung gagawa nyan," said De La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo.

("After our past two losses, we've been telling the team that these things happened, and now we've passed through the playoffs. If we're lucky, this is our destiny. We just need to hold on to what we need to do to win. We must want it. As I said, as we've said, it's up to you how you bring the team. If you bring us to the Finals, that's on you. You're the ones who will make that happen.")

Victories by NU and the Lady Spikers will be a rematch of the Season 85 championship two years ago, which De La Salle won.

The rubber match, if necessary, is set on Wednesday.

In the men's division, five-peat seeking NU and FEU try to arrange a title duel against UST and De La Salle, respectively.

After meeting in the last two Finals, the second-ranked Bulldogs and the No. 3 Golden Spikers meet in the Final Four this time at 10 a.m.

"Hindi siguro kami dapat magkaroon ng kumpyansa talaga sa sitwasyon na ito. Kailangan namin trabahuin talaga yung UST kasi alam naman natin na anytime, puputok sila. Kaya sabi ko, importante lang na ginagawa natin yung trabaho natin, kung ano yung mga adjusment, trabahuin natin sa training para pagdating sa laro, mas magimprove yung laro namin sa loob," said NU coach Dante Alinsunurin.

("We shouldn't really be too confident in this situation. We need to really work on UST because we know that anytime, they can explode. That's why I say it's important that we do our job—whatever adjustments we need to make, we should work on them in training so that when the game comes, our performance will improve.")

The Tamaraws, who topped the elims with a 13-1 record, know that the Green Spikers will pull all the stops starting at 12 noon to keep their hopes alive of reaching the podium after finishing fourth in the past two seasons.

"Hindi kasi puwede tignan ng ganyan 'yan 'eh, ibang araw 'yan, ibang oras, at ibang panahon. Yung dadating na laro namin sa Sabado, sa palagay niyo, si Noel (Kampton), titigil yan? Dapat mas pagtrabahuan namin yung nangyayari ngayon. Hindi kasi titigil yung La Salle 'eh, siguro 'yon lang yung pinakamalaking hamon sa amin, kung paano namin isstop yung gagawin nila. Trabaho lang," said FEU mentor Eddieson Orcullo.

("You can't look at it like that, it's a different day, a different time, and a different situation. The game we have on Saturday, do you think Noel (Kampton) will stop? We need to work harder on what's happening now. La Salle won't stop. I think that's the biggest challenge for us—how we stop what they will do. Just work.")

The last time the Bulldogs and the Tamaraws met in the Finals was in UAAP Season 81 (2019), the year when the Jhocson-based squad ruled for a second straight season.

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team