When the De La Salle University Lady Archers and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tigresses met in this season’s first round last December 8, 2009, every volleyball fan was excited. After all, the Lady Archers were the defending champions, and the Tigresses have just come from successful campaigns in three off-season tournaments.
La Salle eventually won the match in five sets, and prevailed in twelve of their succeeding games. The Lady Archers were so authoritative especially in the first round that they only lost two sets in that period, both coming from UST.
The Tigresses, on the other hand, faced various obstacles in the first round, including an upset from the Ateneo de Manila Lady Eagles before the Christmas break. The Tigresses seemed to be invigorated by that loss as they have never dropped a game since then, including their second-round encounter against the Lady Archers last Valentine’s day.
Coming into the Final Four with their twice-to-beat incentives, La Salle and UST easily trounced their opponents, the Adamson Lady Falcons and Ateneo, respectively, to arrange this season’s clash of the titans.
La Salle, already one of the most successful squads in the last decade, banks on its euphoric run last year to motivate them coming into the finals.
“Our biggest advantage in the series is the fact that we are the defending champions,” La Salle mentor Ramil de Jesus said. “It will be painful if anyone would take the crown from us.”
UST, on the other hand, is hoping to continue its solid run in the second round going into the championship.
“We are coming to the finals with high morale,” UST Coach Shaq delos Santos said. “Hopefully, we will have another good game.”
Lethal vs Terrific
Despite losing Manilla Santos, Michelle Datuin, and Celine Hernandez to graduation, the Taft-based squad maintained its championship core. Team captain Stephanie Mercado, Jacqueline Alarca, Charleen Cruz, Kaye Martinez, and Melissa Gohing are hard-pressed to regain the title.
“Entering the finals is just heartwarming,” Mercado said. “Expect us to become more intensified in the finals.”
The Tigresses, on the other hand, will be pinning their hopes on the returning Angeli Tabaquero, skipper Aiza Maizo, Rhea Dimaculangan, Maika Ortiz, and Judy Ann Caballejo.
“We are happy because our game is picking up,” Maizo said. “We will give our best in the series.”
UST, however, will be missing the services of libero Jessica Curato, who has been sidelined by typhoid fever. She had been sick since the Valentine encounter between the two squads.
The two teams will also be banking on their four sensational rookies to deliver their biggest performances in their young UAAP careers.
La Salle has the league’s top blocker in Joanne Siy, and Abigail Maraño, who has been exceptional in the Lady Archers' last two games.
“I get pressured at times,” Maraño admitted. “But I will just do my best because the team has worked hard to reach the finals.”
UST, on the other hand, will be relying on the league’s tallest player, Din-Din Santiago, and Maruja Banaticla, both of whom carried the UST High School squad to two straight UAAP championships.
“I still get a little nervous because college game is different from high school,” Santiago confessed. “But I will do my best.”
“I will do my part. I want to show everyone that I am not just a rookie,” Banaticla promised.
Ateneo, Adamson favor UST
La Salle may be coming into the finals as the first-seeded team, but the coaches from semifinalists Ateneo and Adamson have picked UST to take the crown this year.
Losing a four-set decision to the Lady Archers in the Final Four, the Lady Falcons weighed in on the strengths of the players from both squads, and found the Tigresses more dominant.
“I pick UST,” said Adamson coach Minerva Dulce Pante. “Their players are better individually.”
Ateneo coach Roger Gorayeb, whose squad lost to the Tigresses in the other Final Four pairing, recognized UST’s spirited run in the second round as their edge over La Salle in the Finals.
“They (the Tigresses) are just playing better now,” Gorayeb remarked.
So which squad will reign supreme? Will the Lady Archers be able to duplicate their successful run in Season 71 this year? Or will the Tigresses complete a grand slam and make 2009 to 2010 truly the Year of the Tiger?
The women’s volleyball finals will begin on Wednesday at 4p.m.
David Mikael Taclino
Inyu Web Development and Design
Creative Writer
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