Knockout tiff for FEU, UP

One of the teams in the running for a Final Four spot will be picked off Wednesday when Far Eastern U and University of the Philippines clash in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre.

The winner of the 4 p.m. duel between both squads isn’t assured of making the semifinals just yet, not with the crucial National U-University of Santo Tomas duel still coming up in the weekend.

For the loser, though, the season comes to an end.

FEU and UP are tied with idle National University in fourth place at 7-6 (win-loss), behind UST’s 8-5 record.

The winner of the FEU-UP game must hope that the Tigresses will beat the Lady Bulldogs in the final day of eliminations on Saturday to make it to the Final Four.

FEU, which hurdled NU, 25-21, 25-21, 25-22, last Saturday to stay alive, has been in the semifinals in the last two years, including a sensational run last season where it pushed eventual champion De La Salle to the limit.

UP, meanwhile, lost a chance to stay a step clear of danger when it lost to UST, 20-25, 21-25, 16-25, last Sunday. UP hopes to prove that last season’s Final Four appearance was no fluke.

Skipper Remy Palma has said she doesn’t want to end her checkered career with the Lady Tamaraws on a sad note.

She made an emotional plea to her teammates against NU and hoped to draw one more show of strength from the likes of Bernadeth Pons and Chin-Chin Basas, along with playmakers Kyle Negrito and Gel Cayuna.

The Lady Maroons will also have two well-loved mainstays playing out their final year of eligibility in Kathy Bersola and Nicole Tiamzon.

UP libero Pia Gaiser also is on her final year but already ended her stint with the Lady Maroons after an ACL injury recently.