FILE – Ateneo vs La Salle in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament on March 7, 2020. TRISTAN TAMAYO/INQUIRER
MANILA, Philippines — Defending champions Ateneo Lady Eagles open their title-retention bid against their rivals La Salle Lady Spikers in the UAAP Season 84 women’s volleyball tournament on May 5 at Mall of Asia Arena.
The league has released its schedule for the women’s volleyball tournament with the fiercest rivals in Philippine sports highlighting the explosive quadruple-header opener set at 4 pm.
Eya Laure and University of Santo Tomas, who reached the Finals in 2019 but settled for silver, begin their campaign against Far Eastern University at 10 am.
National University, which led the 2020 season with a 2-0 start before the pandemic wiped out the remainder of the season, will continue its unfinished business against Adamson at 12 noon.
The Lady Bulldogs will parade national team stars Ivy Lacsina, Jennifer Nierva, Mhicaela Belen, Alyssa Solomon and Kamille Cal, who were all part of the Philippine women’s volleyball pool last year, under new head coach Karl Dimaculangan.
University of the Philippines and University of the East will cap the opening day at 6 pm.
Ateneo, which has holdovers Faith Nisperos, Dani Ravena, Vanie Gandler and Jaja Maraguinot, will start anew from a derailed title-retention bid in Season 82, where Kat Tolentino played in her last UAAP year that only lasted for two games.
La Salle coach Ramil De Jesus is also making his UAAP return after playing only one match in 2020, where his young squad led by Thea Gagate, Jolina Dela Cruz and Justine Jazareno took down coach Oliver Almadro and Ateneo in four sets.
Women’s volleyball will be played every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays with the first round having seven playdates held at MOA Arena.
The post-season of men’s basketball will be scheduled every Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays starting next week.
Ateneo and UST, finalists of Season 81, will clash on the last day of the first round on May 19 at 6 pm.