DLSU and NU battle different foes in bid to stay close to leading UST
Games Wednesday
(Mall of Asia Arena)
10 a.m. — UE vs DLSU (men) 12 noon — FEU vs NU (men) 2 p.m. — UE vs DLSU (women) 4 p.m. — FEU vs NU (women)
DARK horse University of Santo Tomas (UST) has taken the league by storm but reigning champion De La Salle University (DLSU) and National University (NU) want to stay within striking distance for a possible vengeance in the second round.
Tied at second spot behind the unbeaten Golden Tigresses, the Lady Spikers and the Lady Bulldogs tangle with separate counterparts in a bid to stay gridlocked with each other halfway through the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament today at the Mall of Asia Arena.
DLSU (3-1) battles University of the East (1-3), still without suspended head coach Jerry Yee at 2 p.m., as NU (3-1) takes on Far Eastern University (2-2) at 4 p.m. after the duels between their men’s counterparts at 10 a.m. and 12 noon, respectively.
The two fancied squads switched positions atop the UAAP throne in the past two seasons and ruled the different preseason tournaments ahead of Season 86 to boost the possibility of their trilogy.
But UST has stood in their way so far — beating the two teams to snatch the driver’s seat for now a wide-open race to the cup. Winning today against different foes would close the gap albeit against an expected strong resistance from the capable Lady Warriors and the Lady Tamaraws. Nothing’s different for NU, the Season 84 champion and Season 85 runnerup, especially with momentum on a three-game win streak since losing the opener to Santo Tomas. Meanwhile, University of the East tries to snap a three-game losing skid since a historic opening-day win over Ateneo for the first time in 14 years while Far Eastern University is out to shrug off a meltdown from a two-set lead against leader Santo Tomas.