UAAP volley begins with fiery weekend bill

MANILA, Philippines —  The reigning queens from La Salle and long-time kings from National U begin their title defense against separate counterparts in an explosive opening weekend of the UAAP Season 86 volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

La Salle tests the mettle of Adamson at 4 p.m. Saturday for the women’s first salvo followed by a rematch in the men’s division between three-time champion NU and runner-up Santo Tomas at 12 noon on Sunday.

La Salle and NU ruled the women’s and men’s tournaments last edition by sweeping NU and Santo Tomas in the finals, respectively.

Joining the La Salle-Adamson tilt on the much-awaited opening day are the new-look Ateneo and University of the East squads under new head coaches in their battle at 2 p.m. Four other men’s squads will plunge into action in morning matches.

For Sunday’s bill, rivals NU and UST will collide in women’s play at 4 p.m. after the 2 p.m. duel between Far Eastern U and the University of the Philippines. Before that are games between their men’s teams.

Titlist La Salle and former champ NU clash on March 16.