NU spikers seek semis berth vs ousted Lady Tams

Games today

8 a.m. – ADMU vs AdU (men)

9:30 a.m. – UST vs DLSU (men)

2 p.m. – DLSU vs UE (women)

3:30 p.m. – NU vs FEU (women)

MANILA, Philippines - National U tries to stay in the hunt for the last semifinal berth as it plays also-ran Far Eastern U today in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Bulldogs are in fifth place (7-6) behind joint third UST and Adamson (8-5), but are fancied to get past the Lady Tams in their 3:30 p.m. duel and keep their semis hopes alive.

Defending two-time champion La Salle, meanwhile, tries to cap its impressive elims campaign against ousted University of the East in the 2 p.m. match.

But NU is also hoping for an Ateneo victory over UST on the final day of elimination tomorrow to force a playoff for the Final Four slot.

A UST victory, however, will dash NU’s hopes. The Lady Bulldogs stayed in the race after defeating Adamson, 30-28, 20-25, 25-22, 25-19 last Wednesday.

Dindin Santiago, who fired 21 hits against the Lady Falcons, will banner the Lady Bulldogs’ charge along with Myla Pablo, Cai Nepomuceno and libero Jen Reyes.

But FEU is also expected to go all out and bow out on a winning note. The 29-time champions will miss the Final Four for the third time in the last four seasons.

After a poor 1-3 start, FEU decided to bring back coach Kid Santos in lieu of Nes Pamilar and it worked wonders, as the Lady Tams streaked to five consecutive victories to wheel back into playoff contention.

FEU, however, lost three straight, including last Wednesday’s 25-13, 23-25, 24-26, 21-25 setback to UST to kiss its semis hopes goodbye.