DEFENDING champion Ateneo and Far Eastern University will fight for the remaining finals berth today in the UAAP Season 80 men’s volleyball tournament in the Filoil Flying V Centre.
Four-time MVP Marck Espejo’s record-setting performance allowed the Blue Eagles to get a lifeline via a 18-25, 25-13, 24-16, 25-23, 15-9 win over the Tamaraws last Saturday.
Game time is at 2 p.m.
Espejo’s 55-point effort will go for naught if Ateneo won’t make it to the last dance.
“Gusto kong maging memorable yung last year ko,” said Espejo.
As Espejo is expected to be the marked guy by FEU, veteran setter Ish Polvorosa should find ways to get his other hitters involved and somehow lessen the offensive burden of the Marikina native.
The Tamaraws, who hold the twice-to-beat advantage for finishing No. 2 in the eliminations, lost against the Eagles for the first time in three meetings this season.
“We have to triple our effort para mabawi pa namin yung isa,” said Ateneo mentor Oliver Almadro. “We believe in destiny. Kailangan pa rin naming magtulong-tulong.”
The last time the Eagles missed the Finals was in the 2012-13 season.
The survivor of the FEU-Ateneo clash will play National University in the best-of-three championship starting on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Tamaraws are 0-2 against the Bulldogs in the eliminations, while the Eagles have split their head-to-head with the Bustillos-based spikers this season.
Jude Garcia, JP Bugaoan and RJ Paler will be the vital cogs for FEU, which squandered a 2-1 set lead as it succumbed to Espejo’s offensive rampage. (PR)