Ateneo squads seek semis berths

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

JUST when it looked Ateneo had picked itself up from back-to-back upsets, the Lady Eagles got dealt with another blow with a season-ending injury to one of its vital cogs.

But even without the injured Maddie Madayag, the league’s best server in the first round, the Lady Eagles hope to clinch the first Final Four berth versus University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP women’s volleyball at 4 p.m. Saturday at Philsports Arena.

Madayag recently tore her ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in training.

Still, Ateneo star Alyssa Valdez hopes the Lady Eagles can keep their focus to secure a ninth win and stretch their streak to three after losses to rival La Salle  and the youthful University of the Philippines.

Ateneo’s men’s team, the Blue Eagles (9-1), also vie for the first semifinal berth against the Tigers (4-6) at 10 a.m.

“This season is a mind battle,” said Valdez. “It’s all about character building.”

National U and Far Eastern U, locked in a three-way tie with UST at 5-5, collide at 2 p.m.

“This is the turning point for the fourth spot, which we’re all targeting,” said UST coach Emilio Reyes.

The Tigresses bowed to the Lady Eagles in the first round, but hope to pull off an upset this time.

Reyes said the Tigresses must overcome their inconsistencies behind the leadership of sophomore standouts Cherry Rondina and EJ Laure along with veterans Carmela Tunay and Jessey de Leon.