All Final Four teams will be engaged in the same matchup they did last season. Will the results still be the same? Or are there shakeups waiting to happen?
Repeat or redemption will be the storyline of this year’s UAAP Final Four in women’s volleyball as the same four teams from last season will battle in the semifinals.
But with revamped lineups, new systems, and player development coming into play, there’s no telling just what the Final Four will have in store.
With one twice-to-beat advantage still up in the air, excitement is to be expected as defending champions NU Lady Bulldogs brace for the challenge of fellow contenders UST Golden Tigresses, DLSU Lady Spikers, and FEU Lady Tamaraws.
Before the playoffs commence on Wednesday, April 30, with the one-game playoff for the semis bonus between La Salle and UST, let’s take a look at the four teams still in the running for the title and how they got here.
NU Lady BulldogsUAAP Season 86 result: Champion
Elimination record: 12-2
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The NU Lady Bulldogs are definitely the team to beat in UAAP Season 87, and save for a few hiccups against lower-ranked teams, the defending champions have been pristine against their fellow Final Four squads.
Ending the elimination round with a 5-set escape of the UST Golden Tigresses, Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon continue to be the corner stone of the powerhouse Lady Bulldogs, and it doesn’t seem that anyone is slowing them down.
Owning a 2-0 sweep over all other semis-bound teams, NU will have the advantage of momentum against whomever they face.
But NU will be wary of any upsets, especially as they face off against the FEU Lady Tamaraws in the semifinals. Of note that last season, FEU dragged NU to a winner-take-all Game Two in the semis with a surprising sweep win in Game One.
With Belen and Solomon preparing to leave NU by the end of the season, the 1-2 punch will be eager to win one more crown with the Jhocson-based squad.
UST Golden TigressesUAAP Season 86 result: Runner-up
Elimination record: 9-5
The UST Golden Tigresses have still shown themselves as true contenders, even despite missing the services of Jonna Perdido and Xyza Gula for the whole season.
After a stellar rookie year, Angge Poyos continues to be the focal point of offense for the Golden Tigresses while Reg Jurado provides steady scoring as well. More importantly, though, UST has found new contributors at the wing and in the middle.
With the likes of Mabeth Hilongo, Marga Althea, and Em Banagua stepping up to the plate, UST continues to be a force to be reckoned with, especially with the defense of Detdet Pepito anchoring the team.
As they seek a return to the finals, UST must first conquer a familiar foe in La Salle.
After botching an outright twice-to-beat advantage when they lost to NU over the weekend, UST made its job tougher as they now enter a virtual best-of-three series against the Lady Spikers.
DLSU Lady SpikersUAAP Season 86 result: Third place
Elimination record: 9-5
The DLSU Lady Spikers will attempt to make a return to the finals for the first time since UAAP Season 85 but it will be an uphill battle for the tried and tested Taft spikers with the team rebuilding in key areas of their offense.
With Angel Canino still leading the helm, and Shevana Laput emerging as one of the more consistent scorers in the team, playmaking remains an area of improvement as first-year setter Mikole Reyes and Julyana Tolentino grow into bigger roles after the departure of Juju Coronel.
Still, under the proven system of head coach Ramil de Jesus, La Salle has shown flashes of brilliance throughout Season 87.
But the road will still be long for the Lady Spikers as they are set to go through a virtual best-of-three series against UST for the twice-to-beat advantage, after failing outright to clinch the bonus due to a loss to FEU.
FEU Lady TamarawsUAAP Season 86 result: Final Four
Elimination record: 9-5
The FEU Lady Tamaraws are out to gate crash anew as they booked a return trip to the Final Four, this time under the guidance of head coach Tina Salak.
After swinging momentum into their side with a big win over La Salle in their final elimination game, the Lady Tams now have the task of tripping the defending champions. But if it’s any consolation, FEU did just that last season.
Despite being the fourth seed last year, FEU was able to force NU into a do-or-die match in their Final Four campaign, erasing NU’s twice-to-beat advantage.
Faced with similar circumstances this time, and with hitters like Chenie Tagaod, Faida Bakanke, and Gerz Petallo now with richer experiences, and the addition of offensive powers like Jaz Ellarina, there is much more options to go around.
Though the odds are stacked against them, the spikers out of Morayta are surely eager to repeat their unlikely run last year in the Final Four, and maybe this time, finish the job for good for that coveted title.