Ateneo, La Salle duel in UAAP Volleyball Finals

MANILA, Philippines – Familiar faces will slug it out Wednesday, March 5 in the Finals of the 76th UAAP Women’s Volleyball tournament as Ateneo de Manila University take on De La Salle University.

A gargantuan challenge awaits the Lady Eagles as they face a huge thrice-to-beat handicap against the defending champions who swept the elimination round en route to a perfect 14-0 season.

Green and Blue will fill the venue to the rafters anew as the league’s hottest rivalry serves another thrilling matchup, but this time, the stakes are higher with nothing less than school pride and the Season 76 title on the line.

Coach Ramil De Jesus’ girls showed consistency throughout the year as they breezed through the 14 season games, targeting their fourth straight crown this year.

But Alyssa Valdez and the rest of the Lady Eagles stand in their way after they completed a rousing upset of the second-seeded National University in the stepladder playoffs.

Against the Lady Bulldogs, the Loyola crew had to survive a twice-to-beat disadvantage but Valdez, the league’s leading scorer, put on an excellent string of games to beat them twice and earn the right to face La Salle for the title.

Ateneo has yet to win against La Salle this year. The Lady Spikers put on a volleyball clinic in both games to run away with two straight-sets victories over the Lady Eagles.

Tai Bundit’s wards will be riding momentum coming into this game, though, as they are in a seven-game winning streak but their nerves are going to be tested against the Lady Spikers who have gone undefeated in 30 UAAP matches.

Last season’s co-MVPs Ara Galang and Abi Marano, Mika Reyes and Cyd Demecillo are expected to banner La Salle as they showed lethal force throughout the year but they have to weather Ateneo’s scoring machine Valdez – who poured in several 20-point games in the homestretch going into the stepladder semis.

Ateneo has been running like a well-oiled machine in the past couple of games as Amy Ahomiro, Ella De Jesus, and rookie Michelle Morente have all provided Valdez backing but against a squad like La Salle, the Lady Eagles will now feel the sting of Ana Gopico and Marge Tejada’s injury late in the season.

Expect nothing but sheer determination and grit as these teams go up against each other in an all-important matchup. Will Ateneo, end their years of title-drought and live another day or can La Salle complete a perfect season and send home the Lady Eagles today?

Follow the game on Rappler’s live blog. – Rappler.com