NU's Bella Belen, DLSU's Angel Canino, UST's Detdet Pepito, and FEU's Faida Bakanke. UAAP Media

MANILA, Philippines – National University and De La Salle University, holding the twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four, seek to get the job done against lower-ranked foes on Saturday in the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The top-ranked Lady Bulldogs take on No. 4 Far Eastern University clash at 2 p.m., as the defending champions hope to avoid a repeat of last year's defeat to the Lady Tamaraws in the first game before winning the decider to advance.

READ: UAAP: Bella Belen ready to elevate game futher as NU enters Final 4 mode

The tables have been turned for the Tigresses in their 6 p.m. duel with La Salle, as UST is staring at a twice-to-beat disadvantage this season after losing to the Taft-based side in last Wednesday's playoff for No. 2.

The NU Lady Bulldogs. UAAP Media

For reigning MVP Bella Belen, things won't be easy for NU despite holding a Final Four incentive, as FEU showed that it can beat to best. The Lady Tamaraws stunned the Lady Spikers in their elimination round finale to gain a confidence booster against the Lady Bulldogs.

"Alam naman namin na hindi siya magiging madali talaga, lalo na lahat… ‘yung apat na iyon may chance na maging champion. So kami, siguro, kung papaano kami magtatrabaho, kung papaano po namin i-ma-maintain ‘yung competitiveness, ‘yung tipong hindi po napapasobra, kailangan sakto lang. And, ano…marami pang kailangan pagtrabahuhan ‘yung team, ngayon po may scouting… ganyan… so kailangan mag-adjust kung sino man ‘yung kalaban namin," said Belen.

READ: UAAP: National U complicates UST’s twice-to-beat chances after winning 5-set thriller

Alyssa Solomon, who stoned herself from a disappointing showing in the first Final Four match against FEU last year by stepping up in the decider, is determined not to give the Lady Tamaraws an inch.

"Siyempre as seniors, kami yung taga-remind sa team na kailangan hindi mawala yung fire ba sa paglalaro lalo na sa training pag may minsan tinatamad-tamad, kino-call out agad para aware sya na ganoon yung ginagawa niya sa training. And then after naman non, yun, lumalabas na yung laro niya and yung kung paano talaga siya mag-training. So yun po, remind lang po talaga," said Solomon.

Facing NU for the second straight season in the Final Four, FEU is working double time to polish its plays and meticulously study its foes' tendencies to stand a chance of reaching the Finals.

The FEU Lady Tamaraws. UAAP Media

The top blocking team in the elims, the Lady Tamaraws, know that they are capable of weathering the Lady Bulldogs, the league's best-attacking squad, and also the No. 1 in digging and setting.

READ: UAAP: FEU eager to defy odds in Final 4 rematch with defending champs NU

"Ending natin, yung games namin ng elimination, maganda naman yung naging lesson ng elimination round sa amin. Maganda rin baunin yung experiences and also yung mga lessons sa elimination. More, for me, yung focus namin, yung block and defense namin. More on talaga sa technical and tactical yung gagamitin namin ngayon na iiimprove namin," said FEU coach Tina Salak.

The UST Golden Tigresses. UAAP Media

Eyes will be on the Tigresses on how they will respond to the defeat to the Lady Spikers that cost them the Final Four bonus, as they need to win twice to make it.

READ: UAAP: UST embracing lessons from NU loss as they rekindle rivalry with La Salle

"May kasamang gigil… ‘yung di pa nagstart alam na mananalo kami, kumbaga talunin namin sa ano… mindset pa lang alam na namin na kaya namin talunin. Those things bitbit na yon, kasama ng lahat hardwork, kasama ng lahat ng sacrifices, ibinigay namin. Especially, ‘yung mga player na ito ayun ‘yung bibitbitin namin para sa Thomasian community na nagtitiwala, regardless kung ano yung lineup namin. Humina man lineup namin, o lumakas man lineup namin. Talagang ilalaban namin ang UST hanggang dulo. Kami ang pipiliin lagi," said coach Kungfu Reyes.

The DLSU Lady Spikers. UAAP Media

For De La Salle, the victory last Wednesday was some sort of a statement that it was able to get over the hump after all the second-round struggles, which include a late elimination round defeat against the University of the Philippines.

The Lady Spikers went to their old trademark, blocking, which frustrated the Tigresses, tallying a season-high tying 20 blocks.

READ: UAAP: Provido grateful for coaches’ trust after leading La Salle’s block party vs. UST

"Yung past two losses namin, ayun nga yung sinasabi namin sa kanila na ito nangyari yan, ito ngayon dumaan tayo sa playoff, kung tayo ang papalarin destiny natin ito. Kailangan lang panghawakan natin kung ano yung dapat nating gawin na kailangan nating manalo, gustuhin natin so siguro, sabi ko nga, sabi nga namin, nasasainyo yan kung pano nyo dadalhin yung team kung saan. Kung dadalhin nyo sa Finals, kayo yan. Kayo yung gagawa nyan," said De La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo.

Victories by NU and the Lady Spikers will be a rematch of the Season 85 championship two years ago, which De La Salle won.

The rubber match, if necessary, is set for Wednesday.

--UAAP MEN'S VOLLEYBALL FINAL FOUR--

In the men's division, five-peat-seeking NU and FEU try to arrange a title duel against UST and De La Salle, respectively.

After meeting in the last two Finals, the second-ranked Bulldogs and the No. 3 Golden Spikers meet in the Final Four this time at 10 a.m.

"Hindi siguro kami dapat magkaroon ng kumpyansa talaga sa sitwasyon na ito. Kailangan namin trabahuin talaga yung UST kasi alam naman natin na anytime, puputok sila. Kaya sabi ko, importante lang na ginagawa natin yung trabaho natin, kung ano yung mga adjusment, trabahuin natin sa training para pagdating sa laro, mas magimprove yung laro namin sa loob," said NU coach Dante Alinsunurin.

The Tamaraws, who topped the elims with a 13-1 record, know that the Green Spikers will pull all the stops starting at noon to keep their hopes alive of reaching the podium after finishing fourth in the past two seasons.

"Hindi kasi puwede tignan ng ganyan 'yan 'eh, ibang araw 'yan, ibang oras, at ibang panahon. Yung dadating na laro namin sa Sabado, sa palagay niyo, si Noel (Kampton), titigil yan? Dapat mas pagtrabahuan namin yung nangyayari ngayon. Hindi kasi titigil yung La Salle 'eh, siguro 'yon lang yung pinakamalaking hamon sa amin, kung paano namin isstop yung gagawin nila. Trabaho lang," said FEU mentor Eddieson Orcullo.

The last time the Bulldogs and the Tamaraws met in the Finals was in UAAP Season 81 (2019), the year when the Jhocson-based squad ruled for a second straight season.

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