ADAMSON University and National University (NU) aim to secure Final Four spots as they face separate foes today, April 22, in the UAAP Season 85 women's volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Lady Falcons battle the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons at 12 p.m., and the defending champs Lady Bulldogs take on the University of the East (UE) Lady Red Warriors at 2 p.m.
The fourth ranked Adamson sports an 8-4 record and the second ranked NU carries an 8-3 card. A victory today would assure the two teams berths in the semifinal round.
Adamson is raring to bounce back from a tough 5-set loss to De La Salle University 17-25, 27-25, 25-23, 23-25, 9-15 on April 19.
Despite that loss, the Lady Falcons are favored to win against the Fighting Maroons whom they beat in the first round 25-18, 25-17, 25-23 on March 22.
Things have not been well this season for UP which bowed to La Salle 15-25, 16-25, 15-25 on April 16 that extended its losing streak to eight games.
NU, on the other hand, is coming off a 25-21, 25-14, 25-23 victory over Far Eastern University on April 16 for its third straight win.
Alyssa Solomon led the Bulldogs in that contest with 18 points on 17 attacks and one block, as the defending champs have been regaining their dominant form after back-to-back losses to the Lady Spikers.
"I'm happy with the result but at the same time we also have things to improve. We can't be tired of learning. We need to remain confident every game," said Solomon. "Our goal this second round is to take it one game at a time because every game at this point is important. We need to apply what we've been doing in training to the games."
Fighting for pride, the already eliminated Lady Red Warriors are out to give the Lady Bulldogs a run for their money.
Lady Red Warriors head coach Jumbo Dimaculangan said that his team is still out to play its best.
"We'll try to give and play our best and the results will just follow. Power-wise, we can keep up with the rest of the field but I told them that I prefer us to be good over us being strong," Dimaculangan said.
In the men's division, Adamson and UP collide in the curtain-raiser at 10 a.m. even as NU and UE battle at 4 p.m. to cap the day's quadruple-header.