If you have been following the DLSU Women’s Volleyball team for a long time, you would agree that this season is something we are not used to see.
At the end of the elimination round yesterday, the team lost four matches – its most since UAAP season 70 (4 official and 7 via forfeit). But the real disappointment here is that their final four seeding is not yet set. The second seed would have been theirs already had they beaten FEU. So with that, they shall face UST in a virtual best-of-three playoff series to enter the finals for the for 11th consecutive year.
The Lady Spikers had everything going for them heading into yesterday’s match. They were in midst of a 6-game winning streak in which 5 were via straight-sets. FEU meanwhile had nothing to gain as they are already glued to the number 4 seed in the semis. La Salle started slow but regrouped to take a 2-1 set lead. Unfortunately, complacency and mental lapses down the stretch cost them to match. They probably thought FEU was just going to roll over and get it over with.
But you have to give credit to the Lady Tamaraws here. They were determined and proved to be the better team in this match. Nice game! Hope to we can see each other again in the finals.
For the Lady Spikers, this is probably the first time that they will have to play an additional game for semis seeding. We are used to see them already securing one of the top two positions in the standings with 4 or 5 games left to play in the elimination round. So yeah the team is definitely in unfamiliar territory.
The good news is that they are used to this kind of pressure. This is where their championship experience will come into play.
The bad news is that there is no more room for mistakes. UST is a dangerous team and perhaps the biggest stumbling block to their 4-peat aspirations. If their last elimination round meetings was any indication, we can expect the Lady Spikers to have their hands full against the Tigresses.
Since its now a best-of-three, yeah we can probably consider this as the real championship series already. You can count on the UST crowd to be in full force to support their team so it will surely be a finals-type atmosphere in this one.
Wednesday’s match (we can call it Game 1) is very important. Not sure how La Salle would respond have a twice-to-beat disadvantage so unless they want to avoid venturing into more dangerous, uncharted waters, they really need to gain the initial upper hand in this series.
So let’s hope the lessons from their most recent setback is the last that they would need for them to get that elusive 4th-straight UAAP crown.
Like what I said earlier, no more room for mistakes.
Earned. Not Given ? pic.twitter.com/bl3CmGot2V
— GoArchers (@GoArchers) April 29, 2019