Things are heating up in UAAP women’s volleyball, literally.
On Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena, the De La Salle University Lady Spikers dominated the Ateneo Blue Eagles in three sets to bag their twelfth win in Season 85 of the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament. Turning in a brilliant performance once again, the ladies in Green and White clinched the number 1 seed heading into the Final Four. Even more impressive, the Lady Spikers weren’t even at a 100%.
Still, DLSU coach Noel Orcullo wants to take precaution as some of his players got sick due to the extremely hot weather that the country has been enduring recently.
“Coming from here, siguro we have to rest muna. At least siguro, one day para makapagpahinga rin,” the DLSU mentor said in the media scrum after the match against Ateneo.
“Kasi some of them are under the weather, not feeling well. Dahil nga nagbago ‘yung panahon, hindi naging maganda ‘yung epekto sa kanila ‘nung change of weather. Sobrang init the past few days kaya medyo [naapektuhan] ‘yung mga bata,” Coach Noel revealed.
To give you an idea how hot it has been the past week, the heat index around the country except for Benguet, was either nearly or beyond 40 °C according to the website of PAGASA. That type of scorching weather will take its toll on anyone, even if we’re talking about some of the most well-conditioned collegiate athletes. Nonetheless, the chief tactician of the Lady Spikers is expecting his players to end the elimination round with a booming victory.
“’Yung paghahanda sa last game namin, nandoon pa rin, ‘yun ngang respeto. And then, we have to end the second round on a high note,” Orcullo claimed.
For their last game before the semifinals, which will take place on Saturday, DLSU will look to improve its record to 13-1 versus the lowly UE Lady Warriors.