INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines- Reigning champs University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University are ready to give it another go in this season's UAAP men's and women's volleyball, whick kicks off Saturday at the University of East in Caloocan.

The Tigers and Lady Tamaraws will again rely on key players who were named Most Valuable Players last season.

Last year's MVP Henry Pecaña will team up with Jason Ramos for the Tigers.

?We?ve been preparing for a month already and I believe that we still have a strong chance against our rival FEU, which has experienced players,? said UST coach Emil Lontoc.

In the women?s division, the Lady Tamaraws are looking for a three-peat, bannered by Season 71 MVP Camille Abanto and partner Marigail Tolentino.

The duo recently won the PCSO Invitational Women?s Inter-Collegiate Beach Volleyball Challenge and this year's Petron Beach Volleyball leg.

Coach Joseph Santos is confident that with Abanto and Tolentino?s caliber,the Lady Tamaraws will be able to defend their title.

?Right now, we?re focusing on our conditioning exercises and strategy building from Monday-Saturday at the UE Caloocan campus,? said Santos, who has been coaching FEU since 2002.

Among all the teams, Santos said that they are preparing for tough competition against Adamson University, which beat FEU in the Nestea regional finals last March.

?We have been studying their (Adamson) plays especially after our close fight during the Nestea finals," he said.

The Lady Falcons, meanwhile, are out to snatch the title away from their rivals.

?We have a very good chance this season with the tandem of [Angela] Danting and [Leslie Ann] Data," said Adamson coach Dulce Pante.

Danting and Data also emerged as second placers in the Nestea national finals.

The UE Caloocan campus has been hosting beach volleyball for three years now. Beach volleyball started as a demonstration sport and became a regular sport since UAAP Season 70.

Rod Roque, UE assistant Physical Education director, said they have made improvements in the venue to make it more conducive for fans.

?We put a tent for the audience and a net in the perimeter area to secure the game,? Roque said, adding entrance is free for those who want to watch the games.

National University and Ateneo de Manila clash in the maiden game at 8a.m. followed by FEU vs UST, Adamson vs UE, and De La Salle vs University of the Philippines.