Action between La Salle and UE in the first round of the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball tournament, March 8, 2025 at the Mall of Asia Arena. UAAP Media

MANILA -- De La Salle University will try to tighten its grip on the second seed, while the University of Santo Tomas guns for more separation in the Final 4 race when they take on separate opponents on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.

La Salle has compiled a 7-3 record so far in the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball tournament, and will play winless University of the East (0-10) at 3:00 p.m.

UST (6-4) looks to fend off an Ateneo (4-6) side trying to mount its own Final 4 charge at 1:00 p.m.

READ: UST weathers another Nitura scoring explosion, beats Adamson to snap skid

READ: La Salle stops Ateneo streak, bolsters bid for semis bonus

After winning two in a row, De La Salle found itself in solo second with a 7-3 record, above Far Eastern University and UST, both holding 6-4 slates, in the race for the second twice-to-beat slot in the Final Four.

With four matches remaining in the eliminations, coach Ramil de Jesus's Lady Spikers are trying to collect as many wins as possible to secure the Final Four incentive, starting against the 0-10 Lady Warriors.

"Actually, ito talaga yung goal namin hawakan namin yung second spot hanggang sa dulo para at least, makuha namin yung twice-to-beat advantage. Sana magtuloy-tuloy nga. Talaga naman ito iyong isa sa goal namin," said De Jesus after last Wednesday's 25-21, 25-17, 25-20 sweep of the Blue Eagles.

Led by Angel Canino and Shevana Laput, everyone is getting a piece of the Lady Spikers' cake, as frontliners Em Provido and Lilay del Castillo are getting more touches from rookie setter Mikole Reyes.

Averting their first four-match losing skid since 2018, the Tigresses are hoping to bring back the form that carried them to a runner-up finish last year behind Angge Poyos and Reg Jurado, who are currently No. 2 and 4 best scorers in the league.

UST is a game ahead of fifth-running University of the Philippines (5-5) in the race for the last Final Four slot. The Fighting Maroons will play the Lady Tamaraws tomorrow.

Action between UST and Ateneo in the first round of the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball tournament, March 9, 2025 at the Mall of Asia Arena. UAAP Media

Coach Kungfu Reyes is focusing on restoring order to the Tigresses after that slump that dropped them in a tie in third and fourth spots. UST is coming off a morale-boosting 25-18, 23-25, 22-25, 27-25, 15-8 win over Adamson University last Wednesday.

"Dito na lumalabas yung learning namin towards sa three-game losing streak nga. So yung maturity, decision-making nila, kung we let go or we will fight. Yun yung mga takeaway namin," said Reyes.

"Sa skills, tactically, fundamentals, andiyan na samin e. So yung learning experience namin sa breaks of the game nung mga laro namin nung natalo nga kami, at least nagamit nila pagdating dito sa dulo, yung we're down yata i think nung fourth set? Dalawa? Dalawa yung na-recover namin. Hanggang sa nakakuha kami ng momentum. So yun yung malaking bagay nga na nakuha namin dun sa mga losing moment namin," he added.

Ateneo, with a 4-6 record, is two games out of the No. 4 spot, and another loss will put coach Sergio Veloso's side in danger of missing the Final Four for a third straight season.

In the men's division, Ateneo, UST, and De La Salle, locked in a three-way tie at 6-4, go for all-important wins as the chase for the third and fourth Final Four spots heats up.

The Blue Eagles and the Golden Spikers collide at 9 a.m., while the Green Spikers take on UE at 11 a.m.

With reigning MVP Josh Ybañez back at full strength, UST is looking good as it tries to remain in the top-four range with a victory.

"That's the strength of this team, yung offensive potential nila. I'm looking forward na maging defensive naman kami. Yung serving namin, syempre, although di kami nakaka-puntos, but it's on point. Yung targeting na strong. Tapos, yung block namin, hindi rin kami pupuntos doon. So, ano na lang. Bonus na lang sa amin kung makakuha kami ng points sa depensa. Pero, basically, this is offensive players," said Golden Spikers mentor Odjie Mamon.

Coming off a marathon five-set win over Ateneo, coach Jose Roque is happy that De La Salle is more than just Noel Kampton, the league's second-leading scorer behind Ken Batas, and in-form Vince Maglinao.

"Yon yung good thing about this team ‘eh, meron at meron akong mabubunot. Although nagre-rely ako sa mga seniors ko, ang sabi ko nga, kailangan din nila makita yung sarili nila doon sa moment na kung sakaling bubunutin ko sila. Kailangan lahat sila, mag-stay ready," said Roque.

"Even sa training, hindi ako nagrrely just for the seniors or the starters, I even try to give them the chance. Somehow I may say, ito na yung masasabi ko na balanse na team," he added.

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