SSL Preseason Championship returns Saturday

UST guns for a 2-0 start in the SSL against debuting San Sebastian. Jade Moya (file photo)

By Dugout Philippines

MANILA--Action in the Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship resumes on Saturday with four teams looking to string back-to-back wins at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The University of Sto. Tomas kicks off the quadruple-header playdate at 10:00 a.m. as the Tigresses eye a fitting follow-up to their exciting opening day victory with a showdown against debuting San Sebastian College in Pool B.

Eya Laure, who delivered the finishing blow in UST’s hard-fought 25-20, 27-29, 15-25, 29-27, 15-10 victory over Adamson University last week, leads the charge of the Espana-based squad with young guns Mary Joyce Abueg, Bernadette Pepito, Angeli Bacalso, and Regina Jurado as back up.

Meanwhile, the University of the East and the University of Perpetual Help clash for the solo lead in Pool A at 12:30 p.m. while Ateneo de Manila University and Arellano University open their respective campaigns in the 3:00 p.m. Pool C encounter.

Games will air live via Plus Network on Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

The Lady Warriors are coming off a tough win over Mapua University, 31-33, 25-20, 25-23, 21-25, 15-12, last week and expect to face another stiff opposition against the Lady Altas, who turned back San Beda University, 24-26, 25-21, 25-23, 27-25, in their opening game.

UE head coach Ronwald Dimaculangan will pin his hopes on Lia Pelaga, Parcae Nieva, KC Cepada, Erin Navarro, and Von Dimaculangan to walk away with another victory.

“We were able to study how Perpetual plays based on their last game. We have plotted our gameplan but it’s a matter of how we will execute come game time,” said Dimaculangan, who is wary of Perpetual’s high-scoring trio of rookie Shaila Omipon, Winnie Bedana, and Rhose Dapol.

Far Eastern University, on the other hand, also guns for its second win when it squares off with debuting De La Salle University in the Pool D main feature at 5:30 p.m.

The Lady Tamaraws pulled the rug from under reigning NCAA champion College of St. Benilde, 25-20, 24-26, 19-25, 25-22, 15-11, to begin their campaign on the right track a week ago.

FEU will again be tested against UAAP rival Lady Spikers, who will field a solid roster composed of veterans Jolina Dela Cruz, Thea Gagate, Fifi Sharma, Leila Cruz, and Alleiah Malaluan and prized recruit Angel Canino.

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