Dimaculangan reminds Lady Bulldogs: 'Do not look at the standings'
National University is just one win away from sweeping the first round of eliminations in the UAAP Season 84 women's volleyball tournament.
But Lady Bulldogs head coach Karl Dimaculangan has one clear reminder for his wards: "Do not look at the standings."
The undefeated NU, which rolled to its sixth straight win, faces the skidding University of the Philipines (3-3) in their 12 noon encounter at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Thursday, May 19.
"Same thing kung papaano namin na-reach 'yong kung ano standing namin. Same lang din kami ng gagawin, magpe-prepare kami, ta's focus lang kami ulit sa game namin then tignan ulit namin kung ano mangyayari sa game on Thursday," said Dimaculangan.
"Message ko lagi sa players na 'wag namin tignan 'yong team standing. Kasi malayo pa talaga," added the former University of the East tactician.
Only the Lady Maroons remain on the Lady Bulldogs' way from reaching the first round sweep as reigning champions Ateneo Blue Eagles and powerhouse squads University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses and De La Salle Lady Spikers couldn't get past the rookie-laden team.
While NU is off to keep its hot streak, UP suffered the opposite fate as it sustained its third straight defeat since starting the season strong with a 3-0 streak.
The Lady Bulldogs, led by Michaela Belen, Ivy Lacsina, Alyssa Solomon, and team captain Princess Robles, are fresh from a 25-10, 25-11, 25-12 routing of the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws last May 17.
The Lady Maroons, on the other hand, absorbed a 25-12, 25-17, 25-19 defeat at the hands of powerhouse De La Salle Lady Spikers as star rookie Alyssa Bertolano hopes to bounce back and find her scoring groove.
In other games, Adamson (3-3) takes on the winless UE (0-6) in the 10 a.m. curtain-raiser, Ateneo (3-3) faces UST (4-2) in their 4 p.m. clash, and De La Salle (4-2) battles FEU (1-5) to cap the last quadruple-header of the first round at 6 p.m.