Lady Spikers raring to defend crown
New faces, old aces now in different squads headline the cast as the highly-anticipated UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament opens shop this Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Six new mentors will strut their stuff in the star-studded women’s division with La Salle’s Ramil de Jesus and Santo Tomas’ Kungfu Reyes as the only head coaches staying at their stables.
Brazilian Sergio Veloso, also the men’s national team coach, will call the shots for the rebuilding Ateneo squad, deputy Manolo Refugia has been elevated to head coach in lieu of now consultant Tina Salak at Far Eastern U as Norman Miguel returns to National U.
From Ateneo, Oliver Almadro will now steer its neighbor University of the Philippines as former Adamson tactician Jerry Yee will be handling University of the East. Taking his place in Adamson is JP
Yude, who also mentors the high school team.
But the spotlight is still on reigning titlist La Salle, wearing a big target on its back in a back-to-back championship bid after exacting vengeance on Season 85 queen NU.
“For us, lagi naming sinasabi sa team na ‘wag tayong makuntento na nagchampion tayo. Tapos na ‘yun. As defending champions, all the teams are after us,” said Lady Spikers deputy Noel Orcullo on behalf of De Jesus. “Mas mahirap ‘yung magdefend kaysa ikaw ‘yung naghahabol sa champion.”
La Salle will be dealing with the departure of its core led by captain Jolina dela Cruz, setter and Finals MVP Mars Alba, middle blocker Fifi Sharma and libero Justine Jazareno. But Season 85 Rookie-MVP Angel Canino, Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals MVP Shevana Laput and Best Middle Blocker Thea Gagate are still on board.
The Lady Spikers revved up for their UAAP title retention goal by winning the SSL National Invitationals.