UAAP: Ytang, UP brace for NU rematch; UE eyes breakthrough vs FEU

The spotlight shifts to a high-stakes rematch as the UP Fighting Maroons take on the NU Lady Bulldogs to kick off the second round of UAAP Season 88 on Wednesday, March 18, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Set for 3 p.m., the encounter features two teams heading in opposite directions since their last meeting — a UP upset that handed NU its first loss of the season. The games will be streamed live on One Sports, the UAAP Varsity Channel, and Pilipinas Live.

UP, however, has struggled to sustain that momentum.

After their breakthrough win over the Lady Bulldogs, the Fighting Maroons have gone into a tailspin, dropping three straight matches heading into Round 2 with a 3-4 slate.



Injuries have taken a toll on the squad, forcing head coach Fabio Menta to constantly adjust his rotations and deal with limited personnel.

Nina Ytang will be counted on to help spark a turnaround. Recently converted into a wing spiker, Ytang was limited to just five points in their last outing against Adamson, and UP will need a stronger showing from her as they try to get back on track.

On the other side, NU enters the rematch with a point to prove.

The Lady Bulldogs are eager to bounce back not only from their earlier loss to UP, but also from a tough defeat against title rivals La Salle to close out the first round that dropped them to 5-2.

With their championship pedigree, NU is expected to come out with urgency as it looks to reestablish its dominance.

Sam Cantada will be one to watch after returning from injury. In their previous outing, she delivered a solid all-around performance with 13 points, four digs, and 14 receptions — numbers that underscore her importance to NU’s system.



With Cantada regaining form, the Lady Bulldogs hope to come out strong in their redemption bid.

Earlier in the day, the UE Lady Warriors (0-7) face the FEU Lady Tamaraws (4-3) at 1 p.m., with UE desperate to finally break through.

The Lady Warriors are mired in a 21-game losing streak and remain in search of their first win of the season, while FEU looks to bounce back after a straight-sets loss to UST.

As Round 2 begins, all eyes will be on whether UP can rediscover its winning ways or if NU can exact revenge and reassert itself in the title race.

(With reports from Luisa Morales)

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[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.]