Adamson, UST fight for 1st step

MANILA, Philippines — And the climb begins.

Third-ranked Adamson and fourth-seeded Santo Tomas gun for each other’s head in a knockout setto to kick off the stepladder Final Four in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball today at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Action erupts at 3 p.m. with the winner climbing the mountain for another win-or-go-home duel against back-to-back champion and second seed National U in the second stage.

Awaiting in the finals is La Salle. The mighty Lady Spikers (14-0) advanced straight to the best-of-three finals after wiping out the field in two rounds, thus turning the traditional semifinals to a stepladder one for the first time since 2022. It’s also La Salle’s first sweep since 2014.

In the men’s division with a traditional Final Four, top-ranked Far Eastern U and five-peat champion NU shoot to arrange a quick finals rematch with twice-to-beat shields against separate rivals. The Tamaraws collide with the fourth-ranked Ateneo Blue Eagles at 11 a.m. followed by the Bulldogs’ another finals bid against the Santo Tomas Golden Spikers at 1 p.m.