Ateneo, La Salle cross paths for first time this season

It’s one for all, all for one as the returning Lycha Ebon (2), Gel Cayuna (8) and Czarina Carandang (14) wall off UE’s Janeca Lana. Cayuna hopes they can step up anew against University of Santo Tomas. —SHERWIN VARDELEON

Whether it was a winner or a loser, none of the UAAP teams that have already made their debuts in the volleyball tournament are putting too much weight on the results so far.

“One game won’t define our character,” said Ateneo coach Oliver Almadro, whose wards decimated University of the Philippines, 25-13, 25-17, 25-23, last Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena. “This is a big thing for us (beating UP), but we will not stop there.”

“We still need to fix a lot of things,” said senior Kat Tolentino.

“This is just the start,” said University of Santo Tomas star Eya Laure after the Tigresses fell in an upset to National U, 22-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-20, 15-13, also that Wednesday.

Maybe the weekend games at Mall of Asia Arena will provide a little more clarity.

The Lady Eagles expect a tougher challenge when they take on rivals La Salle Lady Spikers at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday shortly after Ateneo’s men’s team tries to rebound from an upset loss to UP in its first outing.

After a crushing Final Four defeat last season, La Salle is bent on regaining lost ground with new middle blocker Thea Gigante and open hitter Leila Cruz. The pair will bolster a core than includes skipper Aduke Ogunsanya, Michelle Cobb, Tin Tiamson and Jolina dela Cruz.

Far Eastern University and National U will also be shooting for second straight victories against separate rivals on Sunday, with the Lady Tamaraws battling the smarting Tigresses and the Lady Bulldogs testing debutante Adamson.

“UST is coming from a finals appearance and that experience will be tough to counter,” said FEU coach George Pascua in Filipino. “But I told the players to just play their game with passion and a win will just be a bonus for us.”

The Lady Tamaraws whipped University of the East’s Lady Warriors, 25-9, 25-20, 25-17, as Lycha Ebon made her return from an injury. It was setter Gel Cayuna, though, who set the tone for FEU with her pinpoint playmaking against UE.

“All teams are capable of winning this season so we just have to study UST and follow the coaching staff’s game plan,” Cayuna said.

NU will take first crack at a reloaded Adamson squad that has hogged preseason spotlight after adding former Ateneo coach Tai Bundit to its think tank.

“Everyone’s preparing for [the Lady Falcons],” said NU coach Norman Miguel. “They have improved a lot and we know that their combination attack is really quick so we have to prepare hard with our blocking and our serve.”

Meanwhile, UP and UE hope to rebound from opening losses when they face off on Saturday, right after UP’s men’s team shoots for a follow-up to its upset of Ateneo when it takes on the Warriors at 9 a.m.