The V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge wraps up its elims phase on Sunday with an explosive match pitting arch rivals Ateneo and La Salle in a duel which also serves as warmup to the semifinal series at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Gametime is at 4 p.m.
Ateneo hopes to ride on the crest of its big 25-23, 26-24, 25-9 victory over deposed champion National U last Wednesday for its fifth straight win in six games with the Blue Eagles raring to soar past the Green Spikers and bring the streak to the next round of the tournament, organized by Sports Vision and powered by Bola.TV, Beyond Active Wear, and Mikasa, which starts on Wednesday.
"Every game is important to us because it is all about preparation. If we fail to prepare just because we're in the semis, it is very un-Atenean-like. So, all these games we will take seriously because we're not in a position to relax and to be chill," said Ateneo coach Timothy Sto. Tomas.
La Salle is actually coming off a similar reversal over University of Perpetual Help System DALTA just last Friday, 25-20, 25-19, 25-19, for a 4-2 slate as it completed the semis cast that includes University of Santo Tomas (6-1) and Far Eastern U (4-3).
Like his counterpart, La Salle coach Jose Roque is ready and eager to face the Blue Eagles again, saying, "It is a matter of pride and I think that's all. Somehow we want to beat Ateneo, and to do so here is a big statement."
The 3-3 Bulldogs, meanwhile, try to close out their unsuccessful title-retention campaign on a winning mode as they battle the San Beda U Red Spikers at 2 p.m.
In the women's division, semis-bound College of Saint Benilde collides with Enderun Colleges at 12 noon in a battle of collegiate champions while Mapua U and San Sebastian College-Recoletos clash in an all-NCAA face-off at 10 a.m.
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