Hi School star debuts for Eagles

MANILA, Philippines - Focus will be on Alyssa Valdez as she suits up for Ateneo against UST in an explosive opening day showdown in the UAAP Season 74 volleyball competitions today at The Arena in San Juan.

Valdez and the Lady Eagles, who have never won the UAAP title, take on the Tigresses in the featured match at 3:30 p.m. The power-hitting Valdez was UST’s top high school player who carried the España-based team to a number of volley championships.

National University and University of the Philippines face each other in the other women’s match at 2 p.m.

The men’s contest also gets going today with Far Eastern University taking on De La Salle at 9 a.m. and Adamson University battling NU at 10:30 a.m.

La Salle, meanwhile, opens defense of its women’s crown against Adamson at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow while FEU, a 29-time UAAP champion, takes on University of the East at 2 p.m.

The men’s matches pit Ateneo against UE at 9 a.m. and UP against UST at 10:30 a.m.

All matches will be at the Arena, except for Nov. 30 schedule that will be at the Blue Eagle gym.

Softball and baseball, meanwhile, will be played starting Jan. 7, instead of the original schedule that is for this weekend. The Rizal Memorial diamond would not be ready for this weekend’s hostilities.

The Lady Archers clinched their sixth women’s volleyball crown after sweeping the Tigresses in last season’s best-of-three finals that was played last February.

All eyes, however, will be on Valdez tomorrow. She was impeccable in all pre-season games the Lady Eagles took part in and is expected to shine further with team captain Fille Cainglet, two-time Best Setter Jem Ferrer, Gretchen Ho, Dzi Gervacio and libero Denden Lazaro.

UST, winner of 14 UAAP championship trophies, is expected to have its hands full after losing scoring machine Aiza Maizo, who has exhausted her playing years in the league.

Filling up for Maizo are Maru Banacticla and Judy Caballejo, who gave UST its first UAAP women’s beach volley last September. Also on the Tigresses’ roster are Maika Ortiz, Rhea Dimaculangan and rookies Gi Reyes and Pam Lastimosa.

Season 73 MVP Jacq Alarca and Stephanie Mercado, daughter of former Asia Sprint Queen Lydia de Vega Mercado, are no longer around for De La Salle. But expected to carry the fight on are skipper Cha Cruz, Michele Gumabao, Abigail Maraño, Mika Esparanza, libero Melissa Gohing and rookie Ara Galang.

For Adamson, last season’s third placer, its campaign would lean on Pau Soriano, Sheila Pineda and Mayette Zapanta.