Unbeaten Ateneo faces its biggest test yet as the Lady Eagles shoot for a first-round sweep against defending champion La Salle in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament Saturday at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Enjoying their best start since joining the league, the Lady Eagles go for a perfect 7-0 card against a similarly streaking Lady Archers in the 3:30 p.m. blockbuster duel.
“La Salle is strong, let’s face the truth,” Ateneo coach Roger Gorayeb said of the Lady Archers, who are seeking a third straight title.
La Salle dropped its first assignment against University of Santo Tomas but had been on a roll since, picking up five straight victories to climb to second.
National University, sharing the fourth spot with idle Adamson at 3-3, battles University of the Philippines in the other game at 2 p.m.
La Salle coach Ramil de Jesus said the Lady Eagles holds the advantage with a veteran core led by Fille Cainglet, Dzi Gervacio, Gretchen Ho and top scorer Alyssa Valdez.
“They’re intact, they have many veterans and they’re unbeaten” said De Jesus. “We may have the title, but they’re the team to beat. So we really have to prepare for them.”