Ateneo to test UST's volleyball championship mettle

University of Santo Tomas' championship mettle will be put to an early test when the reigning men's and women's titlists take on Ateneo de Manila University at the start of the 73rd UAAP volleyball tournament on November 27 at The Arena in San Juan City. The Tigers, which celebrated a double championship last season, open their bid for a third straight men's crown against Ateneo in the 11 a.m. second match after the 9 a.m. opening game between the De La Salle Green Archers and the National University Bulldogs. The Tigresses will then face pre-season favorite Lady Eagles in the 4 p.m. main game. The other women's match will have Far Eastern University taking on NU at 2 p.m. More focus will be given to the women's division, with host La Salle, Ateneo and Shakey's V-League Season 7 champion Adamson aiming to dislodge the Tigresses from their champions' perch. That's why UST coach Cesael Delos Santos is expecting a tougher road ahead for his UST crew. "Basta sabi ko lang sa mga players ko lagi lang maghanda kasi lahat naman ng teams tiyak na nag-training ng husto para dito sa UAAP," said Delos Santos. "Maraming nagbago sa line-up namin, actually iyong naglaro sa Uni Games iyon din ang maglalaro sa UAAP. Pero we expect to play our best, lahat po kami pagdating na mismo ng laro," said Tigresses team skipper Maruja Banaticla. Ateneo coach Clint Malazo aims to steer the Lady Eagles to the finals this year. "Siyempre wala kaming ibang gusto kundi makarating ng finals, iyon ang target naming this year." La Salle, having an intact roster among the eight competing teams, and Adamson are among the other possible title contenders. "Medyo malalim ang bench namin ngayon compared to last year, okey iyong self confidence ng mga players, so hopefully makuha namin ang title this year," said Lady Archers Coach Ramil De Jesus. Adamson, despite having mostly rookies in its line-up, won't go down without a fight. "Kung last year nga na hindi kami masyadong nakapag-training dahil naapektuhan kami ng bagyong Ondoy, nagawa naming pumasok sa Top 4, bakit hindi ngayon e maganda naman yung training namin dahil meron na uli kaming gym at maganda pa ang naging exposure ng mga bata sa V-League," said Lady Falcons coach Dulce Pante. – JVP/KY, GMANews.TV