Lady Bulldogs take on Lady Spikers today

NATIONAL University ( NU) will be shooting for an important win against De La Salle University to keep its Final Four bid alive in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament.

The Lady Bulldogs take on the Lady Spikers on the final day of the elimination round at The Arena in San Juan City.The game is at 4 p.m. after the Adamson University-University of the East at 2 p.m.

Defending champion Ateneo de Manila University ( 12- 2), La Salle ( 10- 3) and Far Eastern University ( 9- 5) are already assured of Final Four spot with the Lady Eagles and the Lady Spikers securing twice- to- beat cards.

University of the Philippines ( UP) holds the solo fourth with an 8- 6 mark while NU is in fifth with a 7- 6 record.

UP will automatically clinch the last Final Four berth granting La Salle wins against NU.

But if the Lady Bulldogs prevail over the Lady Spikers, a playoff between NU and UP will be held on Saturday to determine the fourth team which will advance to the Final Four stage.

Fresh from a 19-25, 25-11, 25-16, 21-25, 15-8 win over University of Santo Tomas, the Lady Bulldogs are expected to go all-out behind power hitting 6-foot-5 middle blocker Jaja Santiago, skipper Myla Pablo, open spiker Jorelle Singh and utility Aiko Urdas.

“We just need to play consistent in all aspects. We need to trust ourselves, our teammates to get a good result,” said Pablo, a former Best Spiker awardee.

La Salle, however, is coming off a 25-21, 22-25, 16-25, 25-21, 515 loss to Ateneo.

“We had a lot of unforced errors last game mostly in the service area. It’s a big factor especially in a close game. It’s a momentum changer. We need to minimize our errors,” stressed La Salle mentor Ramil de Jesus referring to their 37 errors against Ateneo.

Former Most Valuable Player Ara Galang and middle hitter Mary Joy Baron, who scored a combined 35-point output the last time out, will be leading the attack line of the Lady Spikers along with Kim Dy, Mika Reyes and Cyd Demecillo.

Setter Kim Fajardo, who had 61 excellent tosses, will also play vital role.