ALTHOUGH defending champion Ateneo is slowly regaining its old, fiery form, Blue Eagles coach Oliver Almadro still wants improvement from his belles that he said will spell the big difference in their title-retention bid.
“Every other day, every other game kung ano iyong naibuhos namin sa mga patterns namin before, maybe iyon ang kailangan naming ipakita in our coming match,” Almadro said.
“We have to keep on improving. UST is going up also, so it’s a matter of mental toughness for us,” he added.
Ateneo’s resolve will be tested anew when it battles University of Santo Tomas today in the 84th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The match is set at 4 p.m. after pacesetting National University tries to stay perfect when it tackles University of the Philippines at 12 ‘o clock.
La Salle takes on Far Eastern University in the nightcap at 6 p.m., while Adamson University clashes with slumping University of the East in the curtain-raiser at 10 a.m.
The Eagles have won their last three games, counting a 25-14, 20-25, 25-11, 25-14 victory over the Lady Warriors last Tuesday.
Faith Nisperos, Vanie Gandler, Alexis Miner, and Lyann De Guzman are expected to lead the way for the Katipunan-based spikers’ bid to improve their 3-3 card and break from a three-way tie at fourth with the Lady Falcons and Fighting Maroons.
The Golden Tigresses, coming off a 12-25, 25-19, 25-22, 18-25, 15-9 triumph over Adamson two days ago that raised their slate to 4-2 in a tie with the Lady Spikers for second, will pin their hopes on Eya Laure, Ypril Tapia, Ysa Jimenez, Kecelyn Galdones, and Imee Hernandez.
