UAAP volleyball finals: Lady Archers, Tamaraws seek title-clinching wins

La Salle and Far Eastern U try to wrap up their respective title series in the 74th UAAP volleyball tournament Wednesday at The Arena in San Juan City. La Salle takes on Ateneo in the 2 p.m. featured match with the Lady Archers shooting for their second straight women's crown, while FEU tries to end a four-year drought in the men's side when it battles reigning titlist Santo Tomas U at 10 a.m. The Taft-based spikers capitalized on the Lady Eagles' lack of championship experience to clinch a 23-25, 25-21, 26-24, 25-18 Game Two win in front of an overflow Saturday crowd. "We just need to lessen our unforced errors if we want the series to end on Wednesday. Our blocking and receiving will be the key (against Ateneo),” said La Salle coach Ramil De Jesus. "They need to play at the same intensity level like they used to." A La Salle win will give the Lady Archers their seventh overall crown next to FEU's 29, UST's 14 and the eight of University of the Philippines. Ateneo was poised to win the third set when it posted a 16-10 lead but succumbed to the pressure and allowed La Salle to take a 2-1 edge. "Our inexperience showed in Game Two. But we showed that we can match La Salle's intensity. Game Three will be a fight to the finish," said Lady Eagles mentor Roger Gorayeb. Ace hitter Abigail Maraño aims to rebound from a lowly seven-hit performance on the same day she was named the season's Most Valuable Player. But La Salle hardly missed her offensive prowess as top blocker Michelle Gumabao, Rookie of the Year Ara Galang, veteran Cha Cruz and chief setter Mika Esperanza delivered the goods for the Taft-based spikers.   Ateneo rookie Alyssa Valdez, captain Fille Cainglet, Dzi Gervacio, Gretchen Ho, Aillysse Nacachi and setter Jem Ferrer will try to force a deciding Game Four on Saturday. La Salle enjoys a thrice-to-beat advantage in the finals after sweeping the 14-game elimination round. In the men's side, FEU is determined to regain the crown and end UST's four-year reign. "We need to further raise the level of our game. We hope to end it on Wednesday since UST is a tough opponent. It will be tough if this series goes to a deciding Game Three," said FEU coach George Pascua. The Tamaraws stunned the Growling Tigers in the series opener, 25-20, 25-21, 25-22, to move closer to clinching a 25th overall title. — JVP, GMA News