The University of Santo Tomas (UST) aims to sustain its upward momentum when it clashes with the University of the East (UE) in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Golden Tigresses, currently holding a 7-4 record and sitting in fourth place, are set to face the winless Lady Warriors at 1 p.m., hoping to inch closer to a Final Four berth.
Far Eastern University (8-4), meanwhile, seeks to solidify its hold on third place when it meets Adamson University (4-7) in the day’s second match at 3 p.m.
The action continues on Sunday as second-seeded De La Salle University (8-3) battles the University of the Philippines (5-6) in another crucial encounter at 3 p.m. before the league pauses for the Holy Week break. UAAP games will resume on April 23.
Defending champion National University (10-2) has already clinched a Final Four slot and is just one win away from securing a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals.
UST head coach Kungfu Reyes remains focused on improvement despite their recent resurgence.
“We need to go beyond expectations. The three-game skid taught us valuable lessons. What we carry now is the growth in our players’ maturity and decision-making in different situations,” Reyes said.
Over at FEU, head coach Cristina Salak eyes a milestone, aiming to steer the Lady Tamaraws toward their 30th championship.
“As someone who came from the FEU volleyball program, delivering a title is personal for me. I’m grateful for the trust they’ve given me—it’s helped me grow both as a coach and as a person,” said Salak.
Men’s division
In the men’s matches earlier on Saturday, UST (7-4) faces UE at 9 a.m. as it pushes for a semifinals slot. FEU, already assured of a twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four, takes on Adamson at 11 a.m.
“We’re nearing peak conditioning, and system-wise, we’re almost there. But with the Holy Week break coming, we’re working hard to maintain our rhythm,” said UST men’s coach Odjie Mamon.