Photo: UAAP

By Nate Castillo

Third-seeded Adamson University and University of Santo Tomas cross paths in a survival match as the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament stepladder semifinals action begins Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The do-or-die match is set at 3 p.m. with the winner advancing into the last stage of the semis against an already waiting three-peat-seeking National University.

A long rest could prove beneficial for the Lady Falcons, who are coming in with fresh legs after closing the elimination round with three straight wins last week in their return to the semis after three years.

Photo: UAAP

Adamson also holds a psychological edge over the Golden Tigresses, whom it swept in their elims head-to-head.

Behind presumptive Most Valuable Player Shaina Nitura and Frances Mordi, Adamson got UST’s number with a 27-25, 25-22, 25-12, victory in the first round and a 27-25, 25-20, 26-24, sweep in the rematch.

Nitura, who is set to become the first-ever season MVP for Adamson, braces for a tough challenge from the Tigresses and is ready to try and bring her team to greater heights.

Photo: UAAP

“We’re here in the Final Four, and for sure it won’t nbe easy because we’re going up against the best of the best UAAP teams. I think it’s gonna be harder for us, but there’s no backing down,” she said.

“We’re just gonna keep going, do our hard work, do everything that we can, and wherever this leads us, we just have to respond to that.”

UST will try to carry the momentum of its win over Far Eastern University, 16-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-16, in a playoff for the No. 4 seed last Saturday.

Angge Poyos, Regina Jurado, Cassie Carballo, Xyza Gula and graduating libero Detdet Pepito are expected to play their hearts out to survive another do-or-die for the Shaq Delos Santos-mentored Tigresses.

Photo: UAAP

"We’ll use our two games against (Adamson) as our rallying point. We’ll try to improve our game, especially after struggling against Adamson, which also played great behind their ace player,” said Delos Santos, who last delivered a title for the program in Season 72 (2010).

Unbeaten De La Salle University has already secured an outright entry to the best-of-three finals.