THE reigning women’s champion La Salle aims for its tenth win against contender Far Eastern University in the second round eliminations of the 72nd UAAP volleyball tournament Wednesday at The Arena in San Juan City.
The Lady Archers and Lady Tamaraws are billed at the 4 p.m. main event after the first two matches in the men’s division (Ateneo-FEU, 9am; UP-AdU, 11am) and the other women’s contest between Ateneo and NU at 2 p.m.
The Ramil de Jesus-mentored squad hopes to repeat their three-set thumping of FEU on their first meeting on January 13 while the Lady Tamaraws of coach Nes Pamelar aim to make a second straight victory after trouncing a hapless National University six.
On that game, Monique Tiangco scored 13 points while Cherry May Vivas added 12 points as the Lady Tamaraws repeated over the Lady Bulldogs, 25-20, 25-18, 25-17.
In the other women's match, Ateneo (5-4) hopes to rebound from its loss to rival La Salle last January 23, and eyes an easy win against listless NU (0-9). The win will put the Katipunan-based tossers to be on the same league with their San Marcelino counterparts, Adamson University at 6-4.
Men's matches meanwhile feature Ateneo (4-5) squaring off with second-running FEU (8-1) at 9 a.m. The second pair of UP (4-5) and Adamson (2-7) will take the court at 11 a.m.
UST, La Salle trade tennis plum
In a related development, La Salle outlasted defending champion University of Santo Tomas, 3-2, to sweep the first round of the 72nd UAAP women’s tennis tournament at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center Sunday.
DLSU’s Regina Santiago beat UST’s Nikki Manalo, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, in the deciding match as the Lady Archers finished the first round with a clean 3-0 record.
The Tigresses dropped to 2-1 with the defeat while Ateneo scored its first win in three assignments after subduing UP, 4-1.
The Lady Maroons meanwhile finished the first round with a 0-3 record.
It was a reverse however in the men's contest as UST beat reigning champion La Salle, 3-2 for a similar sweep.
Raymond Villarete repulsed John Will Baldonado, 6-1, 6-1, while Miguel Narvaez prevailed over Mike Basco, 7-5, 6-3, as the Tigers seized a 2-0 lead against the Green Archers.
Keane Barraquias and Bernardine Bering defeated David Dekoenigswarter and Marlo Espedido, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, in the first doubles play to seal the Tigers’ fourth straight win in the tourney.
The pair of Pemrick Alina and Ed Amor and singles player Juan Fidel Regis salvaged La Salle, which dropped to 3-1 win-loss record.
Other standings saw Fighting Maroons improved to 2-2 while the Red Warriors remained winless in four matches.
Second round hostilities begin on Saturday.
UST spoils UP football sweep
Rookie Christian de Juan knocked in two goals as the University of Santo Tomas stunned defending champion University of the Philippines, 2-1, Sunday in the 72nd UAAP men’s football tournament at the Ateneo field.
UST now holds a clean slate at 3-0 while UP dropped to 2-1 with the loss. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)