DON’T TAKE ’EM LIGHTLY
Wary UST targets fifth straight victory PLDT meets resurgent Capital1
‘We will fight for every point and that’s the kind of discipline that we are instilling on the players. We keep on reminding them of this.’
Games today: (Filoil EcoOil Arena)
2 p.m. — Capital1 vs PLDT 4 p.m. — Akari vs Petro Gazz 6 p.m. — Farm Fresh vs Chery Tiggo
PLDT faces a team that just scored a breakthrough victory when action in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino conference relocates to the Filoil EcoOil Arena in San Juan on Saturday after a two-week foray at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
There will be three games on tap starting with the 2 p.m. collision between PLDT and Capital1, a team that is coming off a big win over fellow newcomer Strong Group Athletics.
Other games on schedule include the 4 p.m. duel between Akari and Petro Gazz and the 6 p.m. encounter featuring Farm Fresh and Chery Tiggo.
PLDT, Petro Gazz and Chery Tiggo are locked in a tight battle for the fourth spot, trying to keep in step with each other.
Chery Tiggo, its 2-0 romp halted by a 3-1 defeat to Choco Mucho last weekend, looks to bounce back against Farm Fresh.
Reeling from a crushing shutout loss to the Angels that snapped their 2-0 start, the High Speed Hitters try to regain momentum against the Solar Spikers, who scored a landmark win over the Strong Group Athletics last Tuesday.
Coach Rald Ricafort is expected to leverage the team’s bench depth against the Solar Spikers.
PLDT’s experienced players, including Savi Davison and fellow spikers Erika Santos, Jules Samonte and Fiola Ceballos and middles Majoy Baron and Jessey de Leon, aim to dominate their counterparts and nail a crucial victory and put the upsetconscious Captal1 in its right place.
Capital1 coach Roger Gorayeb, however, is ready to spring surprises while hoping to draw the best from veterans Jorelle Singh, Arriane Layug, Patty Orendain and Heather Guino-o and emerging talents Janeca Lana, Cathrina Dizon and Shyra Umandal.
Akari, meanwhile, presents a challenge to the formidable Angels.
Coming off a shutout win over the Foxies, the Chargers seek another win behind new additions Grethcel Soltones and Ced Domingo, who have quickly integrated into the team’s system, combining for 25 points in their last match.
But Petro Gazz showed its potential against PLDT as Brooke Van Sickle exploded for 23 points and Jonah Sabete and Remy Palma backed her up with 13 and nine points, respectively.
The Crossovers, on the other hand, are considered the slight favorites against the Foxies.
Despite their defeat to the Flying Titans, the 2021 Open Conference champions try to assert their dominance with a roster featuring Mylene Paat, Ara Galang, Aby Maraño, Cza Carandang, Shaya Adorador, Cess Robles, Pauline Gaston and the Laure sisters, Eya and EJ.
Games today: (Mall of Asia Arena) 10 a.m. — UST vs Ateneo (m) 12 p.m. — Adamson vs FEU (m) 2 p.m. — UST vs Ateneo (w) 4 p.m. — Adamson vs FEU (w)
University of Santo Tomas attempts to fan its winning run to five matches as it plays rebuilding Ateneo, while Adamson University and Far Eastern University lock horns with the fourth spot at stake in the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena Saturday.
The Tigresses, who are enjoying their finest start since winning the first six games in the 2010-11 season, are not taking the Blue Eagles lightly in the 2 p.m. match.
“Actually, we have reminded the players to treat everyone with respect,” UST coach Kungfu Reyes said, stressing that not doing so could backfire on them.
“We will fight for every point and that’s the kind of discipline that we are instilling on the players. We keep on reminding them of this.”
Ateneo, which has a 1-3 slate, is coming off a tough 12-25, 22-25, 19-25 loss to defending champion La Salle a week ago.
The Lady Falcons and the Lady Tamaraws, who sit in fourth in fifth spots with 2-2 and 2-3 records, collide at 4 p.m. with the winner moving in the upper half of the standings.
As the end of the first round draws closer, Brazilian coach Sergio Veloso hopes that the Blue Eagles have already adopted his program to move up to the standings.
“Now it’s time to prove the system. Now it’s the time to confirm what you learned before the tournament,” Veloso said.
UST showed toughness in victories against the league’s last two champions National University and De La Salle, as well as in last week’s 22-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-7 win over traditional rival Far Eastern University.
The Lady Tamaraws are coming off back-to-back losses at the hands of the Tigresses and the Lady Bulldogs.
FEU is up for another tough opponent in Adamson, last season’s third-placer which is fresh from a 25-19, 25-19, 26-28, 29-27 conquest of University of the East.
“They are a very good team,” said Lady Falcons coach JP Yude on the Lady Tamaraws.
“We will have to work hard whenever we play them. We had five days to prepare for them,” she added.
Adamson has been blowing hot and cold, alternating wins with losses.
In the men’s play, FEU seeks to bounce back from its five-set loss to holders NU as it tangles with Adamson at noon, while UST tries to check a two-match slide against Ateneo at 10 a.m.