Adamson will need to figure out a way to defend against La Salle super rookie Angel Canino (right). —UAAP MEDIA
La Salle takes on a tough and dangerous opponent in Adamson on Wednesday. After that, the schedule will become a breeze for the Lady Spikers.
But don’t expect the current leaders of the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament to ease up any time soon, not with the Final Four looming and the team’s target well within sight.
“I know we can do more as a team in our succeeding games. We worked hard to be in the Final Four and we will work harder to achieve our goal,’’ said star rookie Angel Canino.
“We are continuously chasing the twice-to-beat [advantage],” said La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo in Filipino. “But we are just taking it a game at a time and not look too far ahead.’’
The next game is crucial. The Lady Falcons could hold the key to a luxurious twice-to-beat edge for La Salle, which leads the tournament at 10-1 (win-loss) and is two games up on its closest pursuers with three more matches to play.
After Adamson, La Salle will face archrival Ateneo, which it beat in straight sets in the first round, before closing out against victory-starved University of the East (0-11).
Adamson Lady Falcons. MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Adamson will also have La Salle as its last main threat. But the Lady Falcons badly need the win against the Lady Spikers since their 8-3 card is all tied with defending champion National University and dangerous University of Santo Tomas. A loss to La Salle will push Adamson half a game behind the two squads in the chase for top two berths.
After the La Salle duel, Adamson’s remaining games will be against University of the Philippines (1-10) and Far Eastern University or FEU (5-6).
The FEU Lady Tamaraws will be keeping their faint hopes of a semifinal stint flickering when they battle the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the other game. FEU is three games out of the top four and will need favorable results from the three teams above them to advance.
Adamson has been one of the revelations this season, rising to the top with hitters Trisha Tubu and Kate Santiago providing reliable scoring with Lucille Almonte and Lorence Toring.
But it will take more than scoring to upset La Salle.
“We have to be consistent regardless of who we face. We just have to play our best each game,’’ said Adamson team captain Louie Romero.
Canino and Jolina dela Cruz will supply the offense for La Salle, whose towering middle blockers—Thea Gagate and Fifi Sharma—and tall, rising opposite hitter Shevana Laput can provide a lot of problems around the net.