UST, La Salle start best-of-3 title showdown

With both teams boasting of talented, dynamic spikers, emphasis will be on defense when University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle open their best-of-three showdown for the Shakey’s V-League crown today at the Lyceum gym.

"More than anything else, we really need to play good defense to win this series — meaning, we have to receive well and block well," said UST coach August Sta. Maria, whose wards finished only third in last year’s UAAP volley wars behind Far Eastern University and eventual champion La Salle.

But the UST netters will be coming into the title series oozing with confidence after they topped the elims and semis in offense, block, receiving and serve, prompting La Salle mentor Ramil de Jesus to say that they are the underdogs in the series.

"Kami ang underdog sa series na ito," said de Jesus, who steered La Salle to two UAAP crowns in his eight-year stint with the school. "Our only motivating force is our pride because we are the UAAP champions."

Gametime is set at 3 p.m. and will be aired "live" on IBC 13.

For most observers, however, the match is an evenly-balanced duel between two teams which split their two games in the elims and posted the same number of victories on their way to the finals of this inaugural event sponsored by Shakey’s.

The España-based spikers won their first meeting, 25-16, 25-20, 22-25, 25-17, last May 30 before the La Salle netters bounced back with a come-from-behind 19-25, 19-25, 25-13, 28-26, 15-13 victory last June 20.

UST then turned back the Lyceum Lady Pirates, 25-17, 23-25, 25-21, 25-14, while La Salle walloped the San Sebastian Lady Stags, 25-20, 27-25, 25-23, to sweep their respective semis series for the highly-anticipated title showdown.

San Sebastian and Lyceum clash at 5 p.m. in the knockout duel for third place.

One thing going against the talent-laden UST roster is the fact that it would be playing without top receiver Kate Co Yu Kang, who is currently with the RP team competing in the Princess Cup in Thailand.

With Co Yu Kang out, Joyce Paño, Venus Bernal, Mary Jean Balse, Kate’s sister Karen, Lourdes Palomo, Anna Eliza Fulo and Vida Rica Gutierrez will have to step up for the team.