Ateneo risks eight-game winning run vs FEU
Credit to Author: JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA| Date: Tue, 02 Apr 2019 16:39:37 +0000
Ateneo De Manila University will stake its eight-game unbeaten run when it faces the Lycha Ebon-less Far Eastern University (FEU) in Season 81 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball tournament today at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
The leading Lady Eagles (8-1) meet the No. 3 Lady Tamaraws (6-3) at 4 p.m.
Ateneo swept the elimination round with its eighth straight victory against Katipunan rival University of the Philippines (UP), 25-23, 25-16, 25-23, on Saturday.
Head coach Oliver Almadro wants the Lady Eagles to take the Tams seriously despite the absence of top scorer Ebon who’s nursing a right knee injury.
“With the history of FEU, their winning tradition is really there,” said Almadro. “They are a no-nonsense and a contender team. We have to respect them and show our character.”
Almadro will bank on veteran hitter Kat Tolentino and co-captains Maddie Madayag and Bea De Leon to lead the Lady Eagles’ onslaught.
FEU, despite the absence of Ebon, posted a morale-boosting 25-15, 16-25, 12-25, 25-22, 17-15 comeback win over University of the East (UE) also on Saturday.
Ebon injured her knee in a bad fall late in their 30-32, 25-20, 23-25, 25-20, 15-13 victory over Adamson University on March 24. The 19-year old spiker needs to recuperate for at least three weeks.
“I’m always reminding my players to do the game plan, follow instructions and be disciplined,” said FEU coach George Pascua. “We already got our tempo. We’re going to do it one at a time and focus first on Ateneo.”
Pascua is pinning his hopes on skipper Jerrili Malabanan and Ivana Agudo to deliver anew along with veterans Kyle Negrito, Celine Domingo and Heather Anne Guino-o.
Ateneo pulled off a come-from-behind 14-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-18, 15-12 win over FEU in the first round.
In the 2 p.m. curtain-raiser, No. 5 UP (5-4) and No. 7 UE (2-7) are both eyeing a bounce-back win.
The Lady Maroons will play sans star spiker Isa Molde, who hurt her left leg in their loss to Ateneo. Molde’s injury is not serious but needs therapy and rest to heal.
The post Ateneo risks eight-game winning run vs FEU appeared first on The Manila Times Online.