UST aims to stay inside the magic four against skidding Blue Eagles

March 14, 2023

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Games Today
(Filoil EcoOil Center, San Juan)
9 a.m. — UE vs FEU (men’s)
11 a.m. — UE vs FEU (women’s)
3 p.m. — UST vs ADMU (women’s)
5 p.m. — UST vs ADMU (men’s)

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) aims to stay inside the magic four while Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) is out to snap its rare skid as they collide in a crucial UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament tussle at the Filoil EcoOil Center in San Juan.

Tip-off is at 3 p.m. with the Golden Tigresses eyeing to add to the piling woes of the Blue Eagles, who are in a three-game skid to fall way out of the Final Four picture nearing the close of the first round.

UST is clinging to fourth spot at 3-2 next to leaders De La Salle University (5-0), Adamson University (4-1) and reigning champion National University (4-1) while perennial contender Ateneo lags behind with a lone win in four matches.

Odds are on the Eya Laure-led Growling Tigresses to clip the Blue Eagles’ wings following a sweet rebound against University of the Philippines, 25-17, 25-23, 25-20, after bowing to the Lady Falcons.

UST absorbed a shocking 25-15, 25-17, 25-19, sweep against Adamson, which also blanked Ateneo in a 25-18, 25-23- 25-19 win to loom as a sudden contender along with Season 84 finalists NU and De La Salle.

Against the Golden Tigresses, whom they beat for the Season 81 championship before the pandemic, the Faith Nispero-backed Blue Eagles are bent on finally rediscovering their fiery form to get back on contention.

Meanwhile, Far Eastern University or FEU (2-3) likewise seeks to stay in the running for a Final Four spot when it takes on winless University of the East or UE (0-5) at 11 a.m.

Santo Tomas and Ateneo with FEU and UE also lock horns in the men’s division at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., respectively. — John Bryan Ulanday