Games Saturday
(Filoil Flying V Arena)
9:00 a.m. - NU vs AdU (men)
11:00 a.m. - UP vs UE (men)
2:00 p.m. - FEU vs UP (women)
4:00 p.m. - ADMU vs AdU (women)


IT all boils down to a Valentine’s Day duel with University of Santo Tomas on whether La Salle will complete its first 14-game sweep in six years.

The mighty Lady Archers sealed the no. 1 seed in the Final Four by blasting University of the East, 25-10, 25-14, 25-20, yesterday in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Stephanie Mercado collected 18 points, including four service aces, while Jacq Alarca had 12 hits, spiced up by four blocks, as La Salle kept its immaculate record at 13-0.

In what could be a Season 72 championship preview, the Lady Archers and the Tigresses will face off to cap the elimination round before an expected full-house crowd on Sunday.

“Hindi namin iniisip yung sweep, hindi kami pine-pressure ng school management about it.  We all just wanted to win,” said LaSalle mentor Ramil de Jesus.

The Lady Archers first achieved a rare double-round elimination sweep in 2004 to emerge outright champions.

In a revised playoff format which the league instituted four years ago, a team which completed a 14-game elims sweep will go thru the Final Four.

La Salle will try to put all the stops to prevent UST from avenging its season-opening loss last Dec. 8.

“Mahirap magsalita, sila (Tigresses) eh intact compare naman sa amin na may mga dalawang rookies na nasa starting six ko na first time sasabak sa ganitong laban.  Maayos lang ang game namin, kaya naming makipagsabayan sa UST,” said de Jesus, who is eyeing his sixth UAAP title.

The Lady Archers toyed around the Lady Warriors in the 55-minute match, where they scored 12 service winners and eight blocks.

Rookie Joanne Siy had eight points, including two blocks, for La Salle, which got six hits from Charleen Cruz and Abigail Maraño.

Mary Grace Masangkay and Mary Cristel Rosale finished with five and hits, respectively, for UE, which slid to 1-12.

In the men’s division, JP Torres scattered 12 hits as two-time titlist UST whipped Adamson, 25-19, 25-22, 25-17, to move closer in clinching the semis’ top seed with a 12-1 card.