DLSU, Ateneo spikers seek finals rematch

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

8 a.m. – NU vs AdU (men semis)

9:30 a.m. – FEU vs DLSU (men semis)

2 p.m. – DLSU vs NU (women semis)

3:30 p.m. – ADMU vs AdU (women semis)

MANILA, Philippines - La Salle and Ateneo go for a pair of wins over their respective Final Four rivals today for a dream rematch for the UAAP women’s volleyball championship at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The top-seeded Lady Archers clash with first-time semifinalist National University at 2 p.m., while the No. 2 Lady Eagles collide with long-time nemesis Adamson at 3:30 p.m. in a pair of matches tipped to draw in another sellout crowd.

Armed with “twice-to-beat” incentives, La Salle and Ateneo need only to win once to forge another best-of-three title series.

But the Lady Falcons and the Lady Bulldogs are out to foil the La Salle-Ateneo duel and fuel their respective title bids.

They, however, need to double or triple their effort to pull down the top-seeded teams.

For one, the three-peat seeking Lady Archers, who boast of the league’s most dreaded frontline, are seeking to extend their winning streak to 14 games.

La Salle, which beat Ateneo to claim last year’s crown, has not dropped a game since bowing to University of Santo Tomas in the opener of the double-round elims last year.

UST, a traditional powerhouse, failed to advance to the semis after dropping a four-setter to NU in their sudden death match for the No. 4 slot.

NU mentor Francis Vicente, however, remains confident of his wards chances, hopeful the Lady Bulldogs, led by Dindin Santiago, could match-up well against the Lady Archers and minimize their miscues.

In La Salle’s 25-20, 23-25, 24-26, 25-13, 15-8 win against NU in the second round, the Lady Bulldogs committed 41 errors.

Aside from its vaunted firepower, La Salle is also tops in blocking with reigning MVP and tournament’s top blocker Abigail Maraño leading the way.