THE UST Golden Spikers have secured their Season 87 Final Four spot after the DLSU Green Spikers defeated the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Sunday, the final game day before the UAAP heads into its Holy Week break.
For the third straight season, the UAAP Final Four will feature familiar faces: the FEU Tamaraws (12-1) and NU Bulldogs (11-2) have locked up the top two seeds and twice-to-beat incentives, while UST and DLSU are tied at 8-4, with UST holding the tiebreaker
Ahead of their final two elimination-round games — against the already-eliminated UP Fighting Maroons on April 23 and reigning champion NU on April 27 — the Golden Spikers will look to maximize the Holy Week break to rest and recover.
“It’s an advantage for us. The players can recover… ‘yong mga may injuries can recover, and of course, ‘yong mental fatigue medyo ma-alleviate this break,” UST head coach Odjie Mamon said after UST’s sweep victory over the UE Red Warriors on Saturday.
“Konting retreat, reflection, pero balik na rin on Sunday,” he added.
The break will be especially crucial for Alchie Gupiteo, who was hospitalized earlier this month with cellulitis.
READ: UST’s Gupiteo has cellulitis, is recovering — coach
Mamon has yet to confirm Gupiteo’s return but said he will use the break to ensure the team is fully healthy when it faces UP and NU in its final elimination games.
“Right now, two games nang wala si Alchie Gupiteo. He was just discharged two days ago, so makakahabol,” Mamon said on April 12. “I cannot say (when he would return) pero syempre, ipe-prepare ko hangga’t maaari para full ammunition kami.”
UST middle blocker Popoy Colinares said the break is crucial for the team’s mental and physical conditioning.
“Sobrang importante samin talaga ng recovery,” Colinares said. “Tine-take namin nang mas maayos ‘yong Holy Week break na ‘yon para mas maging conditioned ‘yong pag-iisip namin and ‘yong physical na rin.”
Colinares hopes the Golden Spikers can carry the momentum from their UE win into their next game against UP.
“Syempre po, napakahalaga ng laro namin sa following games kasi malaking adjustment ‘yong magiging epekto nito sa standing…para mas tumaas ‘yong morale namin as a team, para magtuloy-tuloy kami papuntang finals,” he said.
