Familiar faces meet at opposite sides of the net as the DLSU Lady Spikers battle the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball tournament.
The DLSU Lady Spikers are eager to bounce back from a heartbreaking five-set loss as they take on the UP Fighting Maroons on Sunday, March 2, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Beyond the battle for positioning in UAAP Season 87, this match carries added significance as La Salle head coach Ramil de Jesus faces his former assistant Benson Bocboc, now leading the charge for UP.
La Salle is off to an uncharacteristic 1-2 start, with the team's latest setback coming in a crushing five-set defeat to UST, where they squandered a late lead in the decider.
The Lady Spikers will put emphasis on setters Mikole Reyes and Julyana Tolentino as they aim to regain their usual dominance.
Meanwhile, UP (2-1) is also coming off a loss, falling in straight sets to Ateneo after Bocboc opted to start his second unit.
This time, veteran Niña Ytang and rising star Kianne Olango will be at the forefront as the Fighting Maroons look to pounce on a wounded La Salle squad.
With both teams eager to return to the win column and a master vs. apprentice coaching battle unfolding, expect a fiery matchup between two teams hungry to prove themselves. Match time is 1:00 p.m.
(With reports from Luisa Morales)
—
[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]