Lady Tams, Maroons start PVL title series

MANILA, Philippines — FEU braces for a tougher, fiercer UP side, wary of its rival’s spunk as they slug it out in Game One of the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Collegiate Conference Finals at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan today.

Both teams set out for their 6 p.m. encounter brimming with confidence after pulling off a pair of reversals over their respective higher seeded rivals in the semifinals. But the Lady Tams seem to have an edge on experience, having figured in last year’s title duel won by absentee National U Lady Bulldogs.

In contrast, the Lady Maroons haven’t reached a final in any volley league with a third place effort in the defunct V-League Collegiate Conference in 2016 and a fourth place finish in UAAP Season 78 being their best in 19 years. UP placed third in UAAP in Season 60.

But observers believe the Diliman-based squad has got what it takes to challenge the Lady Tams for the crown with coach Godfrey Okumu whipping the Lady Maroons into a legitimate title contender barely a year after taking over former coach Jerry Yee’s post.