The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 men’s and women’s volleyball tournaments will be starting on the 25th of February at the grand venue of the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City.
The event sees the National University team, the NU Lady Bulldogs pitted against the Ateneo team as it aims to grab its retention bid. The NU team will be coming from a 16-0 championship run while Ateneo Blue Eagles were last season’s bronze medalists. The match will begin at 2 p.m.
Lady Bulldogs have a large fan base and are star players as they have shown their excellent skill and athleticism in last season’s impressive feat. Starting with reigning season MVP Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Lams Lamina, Sheena Toring, Cess Robles, and Jennifer Nierva. They are NU’s team who ended a 65-year title drought in Season 84.
Ateneo coach Oliver Almadro will be banking on the team’s strongest players Faith Nisperos, Vanie Gandler and AC Miner as his team faces NU coach Karl Dimaculangan and his formidable squad.
UAAP Men’s Volleyball starters
NU’s men’s volleyball team will start the season, continuing its drive for an elusive “three-peat” after its season was wiped out by the COVID-19 Pandemic last 2020.
Dante Alinsunurin, Bulldogs’ stellar coach, will have the team’s veterans Joshua Retamar, Nico Almendras, and Michaelo Buddin kick in a fierce game against the Blue Eagles at 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, Adamson University and the University of the East will be having their match along with the Falcons and Red Warriors at an early start by 10 a.m.
Jerry Yee is also making his debut as Lady Falcons’ new coach by noon against the Lady Red Warriors.
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La Salle vs UST
Last year’s runner-ups, the La Salle Lady Spikers, will get the chance to boost their performance against the University of Santo Tomas — whose team composition is now mainly of rookies. Their match will occur at the same venue, Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City but on Sunday, at 2 p.m.
Debuting in the team would be Angel Canino joining in the great company of Thea Gagate, Alleiah Malaluan, Jolina Dela Cruz, Mars Alba, and Justine Jazareno against an Eya Laure-led team. The opposing team has truly made sure that the UST team had powerful, new key players with the likes of Xyza Gula, Regina Jurado, Pierre Abellana, and Cassie Carballo.
Another player making their UAAP debut is prized recruit Noel Kampton with the La Salle Green Spikers. They will be playing against national team coach Odjie Mamon and his team, the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Spikers following suit at 4 p.m.
University of the Philippines’ team will be playing under a new coach, veteran tactician Shaw Delos Santos as he also returns to the UAAP. The first match will be on Sunday at 12 noon wherein his team will be facing his alma mater and ex-squad Far Eastern University after the men’s match between the two schools.
UAAP upcoming schedules and events
Schedules and events for the UAAP volleyball tourney are laid out with a mix of men’s and women’s matches every Saturday and Sunday. The exception to this would be the Wednesday games where both divisions will have quadruple-double with the men’s league being held at Philsports Arena.
Legendary rivals Ateneo Blue Eagles and La Salle Lady Spikers will meet on March 5 at MOA Arena. Their game will have separate tickets for the day.
By March 22, last year’s champion NU will face off against La Salle by the 22nd of March also at the MOA Arena.
The 4th of March also features a very interesting match between two excellent teams. These are from the men’s division with former national team coach Alinsunurin’s Bulldogs taking on incumbent interim Philippine men’s squad tactician Mamon and the Tiger Spikers at MOA Arena.
Lastly, the tenacious teams of NU and FEU — both finalists of Season 81 — will finally have a chance to settle a long-waited match that will happen on the 18th of March at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan, Metro Manila.
It will be a very interesting and thrilling season for the UAAP. There are old team rivals that continuously draw out unpredictable results for the games. Better stay glued on our pages as we also bring news on how the team stats are and their performance outlooks based on their historical performance. Just comment below if you’d like us to focus on particular topics. We’ll certainly have them ready on our pages for you. Cheers!
