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HIGHLIGHTS: Ateneo vs UST – UAAP Season 81 Volleyball Finals Game 1

JR Isaga

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HIGHLIGHTS: Ateneo vs UST – UAAP Season 81 Volleyball Finals Game 1
A historic championship battle unfolds on Saturday, May 11, as Ateneo and UST fight for the women's volleyball crown for the first time

MANILA, Philippines – For the first time ever in UAAP history, the Ateneo Lady Eagles and the UST Golden Tigresses are facing each other in the women’s volleyball finals. 

Although they took a longer road to the title round, the Oliver Almadro-coached Lady Eagles exacted a four-set revenge against the gritty FEU Lady Tamaraws in Game 2 of the Season 81 Final Four last Wednesday, May 8. So for the seventh time in 8 years, the Lady Eagles are perched at the peak of the post-season.

Meanwhile, the Kung Fu Reyes-mentored Golden Tigresses rode the perfect storm en route to their first finals appearance in 8 long years.

After the three-peat champion La Salle Lady Spikers failed to secure the 2nd seed on the last day of eliminations, UST seized the opportunity and scored back-to-back wins against coach Ramil De Jesus’ imposing dynasty. 

Not only did UST snatch the 2nd seed and twice-to-beat advantage in a playoff match against La Salle, they also ended the Lady Spikers’ 10-year finals run and four-peat title bid with a heart-stopping five-set Final Four win

Game 1 of the best-of-three championship series is set at 4 pm on Saturday, May 11, at the Araneta Coliseum.

With the curtain falling soon on her UAAP career, leading MVP candidate Sisi Rondina is looking to give everything she’s got to win her first and final title for the Tigresses.

And with a wealth of young talent surrounding Rondina like shoo-in Rookie of the Year Eya Laure, the Tigresses are out to prove that #KamiNaman is not just a trendy slogan. 

However, UST is not the only one looking to sing a happy swan song. Ateneo’s star trio of Kat Tolentino, Maddie Madayag and Bea De Leon are all playing their last few games for the Lady Eagles, and they’re riding one last redemption tour after last year’s heartbreaking exit. 

One team is raring to revive a lost winning culture. The other is looking to maintain their program’s elite standards. Who will set the tone first in the championship showdown?

 

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– Rappler.com

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