THREE teams will be gunning for the last spot in the Final Four as the last day of the elimination round of the UAAP Season 77 women’s volleyball tournament kicks off today at the Arena in San Juan City.
The University of Santo Tomas (UST), still smarting from a heartbreaking five-set loss to University of the Philippines (UP) on Valentine’s Day, takes on winless University of the East (UE) at 2 p.m., while Far Eastern University (FEU) and Adamson University clash in a do-or-die match at 4 p.m.
Three scenarios are looming, with a possible three-way logjam from fourth to sixth places, which will necessitate two playoff matches serving as eliminators, a two-way tie to force a do-or-die playoff for the last semis berth or one team will clinch after three teams absorb their ninth loss of the season.
The Tigresses, Lady Maroons, Lady Tamaraws and the Lady Falcons are locked in a four-way logjam in fourth place at 5-8 (win-loss), assuring that there will be a team that will be a semifinalist with a losing record for the second straight season.
Defending champion Ateneo captured the outright Final berth with the thrice-to-beat edge, while De La Salle (12-2) is the second-ranked with the twice-to-beat bonus in the step-ladder semifinals.
With a 7-6 slate, National University (NU), which will play UP in the final day of eliminations tomorrow, has already assured itself of the third seed in the playoffs.