NU, UST in virtual tag team duel

MANILA, Philippines — Different divisions, same casts of title protagonists.

In a one-of-a-kind setting, National U and Santo Tomas go for each other’s necks in a royal rumble for the men’s and women’s titles in the UAAP Season 86 volleyball tournament today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

What was seen as a wide-open race has boiled down to a tag team duel as National U’s and Santo Tomas’ teams figure in best-of-three mano-a-mano for the first time at least in the Final Four era.

The Lady Bulldogs and the Golden Tigresses begin their waltz at 4 p.m. while the Bulldogs pursue a four-peat bid against the Golden Spikers in a rematch at 2 p.m.

All four squads are raring to growl, roar and unleash their sharpened fangs to draw first blood.

“Nandito na kami, isasagad na namin,” vowed Santo Tomas coach Kungfu Reyes, whose wards probably had the biggest prey on their way to the championship.

Supposedly in transition period following the graduation of long-time ace Eya Laure, the young Golden Tigresses still took the UAAP by storm, gaining a twice-to-beat bonus as the No. 2 seed, which they maximized in eliminating no less than reigning champion La Salle in one attempt, 25-20, 16-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-7.

It’s the first finals appearance for Santo Tomas in five years while the top-ranked NU had to go through the distance against the fourth-seeded FEU to clinch its third straight finale ticket, 25-13, 27-25, 25-15.

If anything, that adversity has only made the Lady Bulldogs a fiercer and more ready battalion for their title redemption bid after a bridesmaid finish to the Lady Spikers last season.