DLSU eyes second win
Games Wednesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 2 p.m. – DLSU vs FEU 4 p.m. – UE vs UST
De La Salle goes for its second kill in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament when it faces Far Eastern University on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Looking to clear whoever’s standing in the way is reigning Rookie-mvp Angel Canino as she leads the Lady Spikers against the Lady Tamaraws in the 2 p.m. tiff.
The Taft-based squad kicked off its title-retention bid with a convincing victory over the Adamson Lady Falcons in the opening day of the tournament, 25-16, 25-16, 25-18.
Despite the departure of his core players, La Salle head coach Ramil De Jesus marked his UAAP win No. 300 with the squad’s holdovers in Thea Gagate, Alleiah Malaluan and Shevana Laput.
DLSU cruised to the top with ease, showing no letups against the equally rebuilding Adamson side which lost more than half of its rotation’s depth.
Meanwhile, the Lady Tamaraws claimed their own season-opening straight-set win against University of the Philippines, 25-23, 25-21, 25-18.
The last time FEU had the upper hand over La Salle was back in Season 81 in 2019.
Since then, the Lady Spikers have won over the Lady Tamaraws in all their head-to-head encounters.
In the next play, University of the East (1-0) will get an acid test immediately after its breakthrough opening victory against Ateneo when it faces a heavily favored University of Santo Tomas (1-0) at 4 p.m.
The Lady Warriors were no pushovers in their opening match after ending a head-to-head 21-game losing stretch at the hands of the Blue Eagles in four sets.
UE, recent doormats in the women’s volleyball following multiple winless campaigns in the last decade, didn’t have to wait for a match against an equally hapless squad to earn its first season win.
Casiey Dongallo carried the Lady Warriors on her back to become the highest scoring rookie in her debut with 27 points.
The 18-year-old Cebuana unveiled herself as an early bet for the best rookie award and possibly as an MVP candidate at the same time, which interestingly accolades that were both claimed by Bella Belen and Canino in Seasons 84 and 85, respectively.
However, it will prove to be a tall task, an even more ambitious one at that as UST boasts a balanced offensive key.
The Golden Tigresses began their post-eya Laure era in convincing style after taking down National University Lady Bulldogs in a straight-set win.
The España-based team’s veteran playmaker Cassie Carballo led four players to a double-digit showing including promising rookies Angge Poyos and Margaret Banagua along with their seniors Regina Jurado and Jonna Perdido.
The Lady Warriors have practically never won over the Lady Tigresses in the Final Four era and a win could prove they are officially out to become consistent contenders this season and their being cellar dwellers are now a thing of the past.