As Final Four nears, La Salle sets sight on No. 2, twice-to-beat

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—De La Salle has found itself in a lopsided race in chasing league-leader Ateneo for the No.1 seed of the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament, but that doesn’t mean the defending champion will just bow down.

The Lady Spikers, who are seeking a fourth straight title, are just pacing themselves for the tougher fight ahead—the Final Four.

Setter Michelle Cobb said they’re not thinking of the standings that much and the more important thing for them, apart form the championship, is getting that No. 2 seed that will still give them a twice-to-beat advantage come the semifinals.

“We don’t really think f the standings that much because our goal is to get one game at a time and as long as we’re in the top two we can get that twice-to-beat advantage,” sad Cobb after the Lady Spikers swept Adamson University 25-15, 25-18, 25-16, Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“I think getting that No. 2 spot is a big thing for us.”

La Salle head coach Ramil De Jesus, the owner of all of the Lady Spikers’ 11 titles, shared the same sentiment as Cobb and that he’d rather look at who they will face in the semis if they finish No. 2.

La Salle improved to 8-3 after beating the Lady Falcons to tighten its grip of the second spot while the Lady Eagles pushed their winning streak to 10 games and their 10-1 card puts them two games above the Lady Spikers.

Ateneo also clinched a Final Four spot and moved a win away from gaining twice-to-beat.

“What’s important for us is to get that no.2 spot in the standings because getting that no.1 seed is near impossible,” said De Jesus in Filipino. “I just want to know who we’re facing and who we’ll have to go through.”