UST vs. La Salle in UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball. Photo from UAAP Images.MANILA — University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle University will lock horns anew to determine the second seed of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball Final 4.

Ahead of their third straight semifinals showdown, the two contenders dispute the twice-to-beat slot on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City just before the postseason officially opens.

Expect another down-the-wire match-up between the Tigresses and the Lady Spikers at 2:00 p.m., with the winner securing the Final Four bonus and gaining a huge psychological advantage heading into their next meeting on Saturday.

The other Final Four pits defending champion National University, which has the twice-to-beat incentive after finishing No. 1 in the eliminations with a 12-2 record, and the fourth-ranked Far Eastern University, also on Saturday. The Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Tamaraws will meet in the Final Four for the second straight season.

UST and De La Salle ended up tied with Far Eastern University in second to fourth spots at 9-5, as well as in the ranking points tiebreaker with 27 points apiece.

With a superior set ratio over the Lady Tamaraws, the Tigresses and the Lady Spikers will duke it out in a playoff for the coveted No. 2 spot.

UST and De La Salle have split their two previous Final Four duels. The Lady Spikers emerged triumphant en route to winning the UAAP Season 85 (2023) title, while the Tigresses got their revenge last season to reach the league's biggest stage.

For UST coach Kungfu Reyes, it's all about who wants it more right now.

"Even La Salle ganon din sinasabi na kilala na rin nila kami, alam namin sino staff nila, alam nila at namin sino ang go-to guy ng bawat isa. Patibayan na lang ng isip at dibdib itong labanan namin sa playoffs," said Reyes.

The Tigresses won their first meeting, 25-12, 22-25, 13-25, 25-23, 15-13, last Feb. 26, while the Lady Spikers evened up their head-to-head eliminations duel with a 15-25, 25-17, 24-26, 25-20, 16-14 victory last March 29.

Angge Poyos and Reg Jurado have been carrying the offensive load for UST all season long, while De La Salle turned to Angel Canino and Shevana Laput when the going gets tough.

The Lady Spikers have a solid frontline with Em Provido and Lilay del Castillo, while Em Banagua has a solid second round for the Tigresses in the middle to team up with Pia Abbu.

It will also all boil down to the setters, as UST's Cassie Carballo hopes to make up for a disappointing showing against NU, while De La Salle's first-year playmaker Mikole Reyes will be tested in a high-stakes duel like today.

Despite the loss to the Lady Bulldogs, the Tigresses remain upbeat about their chances of claiming the No. 2 spot.

"Alam mong chine-chase namin na makuha namin yung twice-to-beat advantage, pero yung mga learning namin dito, again may babaunin ulit kami papuntang semis. So sabi nga namin sa kanila [na] championship material tayo, pero marami pa tayong dapat ayusin. Hindi na sa volleyball skills minsan, more on yung tayuan, yung talagang alam mo yung tayo pa lang matibay na. Ganoon si NU, talagang hinahawakan niya yung pagiging beterano nila," said Reyes.

"Sa amin naman may ganoon, pero talagang kulang din kami sa mga ganong bagay na outside volleyball is ma-develop. Hopefully, yung maturity pa kasi nga paulit-ulit naming sinasabi, yung skills nandiyan na, i-develop natin yung maturity, decision-making natin," he added.

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