Tigresses seek to claim F4 berth

RECHARGED after a lengthy Holy Week break, the UST Golden Tigresses seek to claim a Final Four spot as they face the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball second-round resumption at the Mall of Asia Arena today.

A win by the Tigresses (8-4) in the 1 p.m. encounter not only will secure them a Final Four spot but also boot out the Maroons (6-6) from playoff contention, which means the completion of the semifinals cast, too.

As it stands, only the NU Lady Bulldogs (11-2) have secured their place in the Final Four and even a twice-to-beat advantage as they are assured of a top seed finish even if they lose their last match in the 14-game elimination round against the Golden Tigresses.

The third seed Tigresses, second running De La Salle Lady Spikers (8-4), the fourth seed FEU Lady Tamaraws (8-5) and the fifth running Maroons are still racing for that semis berth.

A win by University of Santo Tomas (UST) will end that race and complete the semifinalists since University of the Philippines (UP) will sustain its seventh loss and could only win seven games at max, not enough to tie at least of the second to third seed teams and force a playoff for No. 4 due to potential identical win-loss cards.

A win by UP, however, will have the race for the remaining Final Four berths continue.

UST team captain and reigning Best Libero Detdet Pepito said that losing is not an option for the Tigresses any more, especially against lower-ranked teams.

"Actually, when we lost to La Salle, that was the most painful loss for us. It became one of our biggest motivations afterward. For me — well, I'm not sure what the others felt — but after that game, I felt like losing just wasn't an option anymore," said Pepito after UST's 25-19, 25-16, 25-15 win over University of the East on April 12.

"We saw how the lower-ranked teams were performing — they were fighting hard and really showing how much they wanted it. So for us, being on top, we realized we have to want it even more.

"Right now, every set matters. We need to focus on winning each one, and then, of course, the game itself, added Pepito, whose Tigresses look to sweep their season series against the Maroons.

Doing just that is easier said than done since UST faces a determined UP side that has won three of its last four games including upsets, first against National University last month and then La Salle, 26-24, 18-25, 19-25, 25-22, 16-14, on April 13.

That winning stretch pumped life to the Maroons' Final Four bid.

"It's always been the team's dream to reach the Final Four. It's been such a long time since the team last made it. That's what we're aiming for now — that's our goal this season," said Joan Monares, who led UP last timeout with 16 points.

In the second game at 3 p.m., La Salle, if UST could not beat UP, guns for a semis spot and boost its twice-to-beat chances at the expense of the already-eliminated Adamson Lady Falcons (5-7).

Games today Mall of Asia Arena: 1 p.m. UST vs UP (w), 3 p.m. La Salle vs Adamson (w)