Fancied Lady Bulldogs wary of young Lady Eagles
National University Lady Bulldogs' new head coach Babes Castillo | philstar.com/ Efigenio Toledo IV
MANILA, Philippines — The National University Lady Bulldogs held the distinction as the only team who swept the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles in the elimination round last season.
This year, the Lady Bulldogs are expected to do to the same.
NU, despite having a new coach, will parade an intact core with Jaja Santiago, Jasmine Nabor, Jorelle Singh and Aiko Urdas.
The Lady Eagles, for their part, have a relatively younger team after losing key players Jia Morado, Mich Morente and Kim Gequillana.
While they are heavily favored, Santiago said they will still be on their toes when they face each other Wednesday at the FilOil Flying-V Arena in San Juan.
"Definitely pag-aaralan namin maigi 'yun, (Lady Eagles)," she said.
"Although madami sa kanila nawala, pero hindi kami pwede magpaka-kampante kasi maraming kaya, at maraming kaya i-improve ang players every season,” Santiago stressed.
The Lady Bulldogs will try to build on their opening day victory against the much-improve Adamson Lady Falcons, while the Lady Eagles will aim to bounce back after a sorry five-set loss to the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws.
New head coach Babes Castillo said Ateneo remains a deadly team because of their long-term program. But they will do the necessary preparations to counter.
"Isa sa abilities nila is they easily adapt. Magpapakita sila ng mga bagay na hindi namin nakikita, but makikita din namin 'yung mga dati nilang ginagawa," he said.
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