UAAP: Ateneo, La Salle eye Final Four bonus

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

TOURNAMENT leaders Ateneo and La Salle see no reason to drop their guards when they go up against also-rans Saturday as they go for the semifinal bonus in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Both teams try to put a lock on the top two spots with a 10th victory. The Lady Eagles take on Adamson at 4 p.m., after the Lady Spikers tackle University of the East at 2.

A win will assure the Lady Eagles and the Lady Spikers the twice-to-beat edge in the semifinals.

Ateneo veteran Amy Ahomiro thinks the defending champions should keep pushing as they play the rest of the season without sophomore standout Maddie Madayag, who sustained a knee injury.

“It’s always bad to lose someone to injury, but we were able to play well, so hopefully all of our games will be like that also,” said Ahomiro after the Lady Eagles swept University of Santo Tomas, 25-20, 25-18, 25-18.

Both the Lady Falcons (3-8) and the Lady Warriors (0-11) are out of Final Four contention, leaving four teams to fight for the last two Final Four berths.

The four semifinal hopefuls collide in key games Sunday with UST and National U tangling at 2 p.m., before the 4 p.m. match between University of the Philippines and Far Eastern University at Filoil Flying V Arena.

Just like the Lady Eagles, the Lady Spikers have lost a key cog in Cyd Demecillo,who suffered a knee injury two weeks ago.