Games today:

(Rizal Memorial Coliseum)

11 a.m. –- FEU vs CSB

1 p.m. --- La Salle vs Ateneo

4 p.m. --- NU vs UP

6 p.m. --- UST vs UE

Unbeaten teams De La Salle University and Far Eastern University eye quick semifinals tickets against separate foes in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship quarterfinals Sunday, Nov. 3, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Armed with twice-to-beat advantages after topping their respective pools in the second round, the Lady Spikers battle archrival Ateneo de Manila University at 1 p.m. following the Lady Tamaraws’ showdown against College of Saint Benilde in the 11 a.m. curtain-raiser.

Meanwhile, defending champion National University squares off with University of the Philippines at 4 p.m. while University of Santo Tomas takes on University of the East at 6 p.m. to cap off a packed quarters schedule of the tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, GCash, Chery Tiggo, F2 Logistics, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, R and B Milk Tea and Summit Water.          

The Lady Bulldogs and Golden Tigresses are also equipped with incentives after finishing as second seeds in the round-robin phase of the playoffs.

La Salle and FEU are the only remaining unscathed squads in the league’s centerpiece competition, winning all their first six assignments in the competition which has Smart Sports, PLDT Fibr, Mikasa, Asics, Rebel Sports, Eurotel, Victory Liner, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), and SM Tickets as technical partners.

Tagged as favorites over the skidding Blue Eagles, another win by the Lady Spikers will draw them closer to a return trip to the finals after a runner-up finish in the inaugural edition two years ago.

“Kailangan lang maging consistent sa loob kasi ‘yung sistema nandoon naman na eh. Dapat maging maayos din ‘yung communication,” La Salle coach Noel Orcullo said.

The Lady Tamaraws are also fancied to get past the Lady Blazers, who are winless in three games in the second round.  

On the other hand, three-peat-seeking NU is not taking the Fighting Maroons lightly.

“Alam namin na bawat game mahalaga lalo na’t makakalaban namin sila sa UAAP. Mataas ang respeto namin sa kanila kaya talagang pinaghahandaan namin sila,” Lady Bulldogs deputy mentor Karl Dimaculangan said.

UST is looking to score a repeat over the same squad it defeated via reverse sweep in the first round.

However, the handicapped squads are sure to throw everything they have to force a do-or-die for a Final Four seat on Monday.

Quarters winners will advance into the knockout semis for seats in the best-of-three finals while eliminated teams will be relegated in the classification round. The battle for bronze is a one-game affair.

SSL games are aired live and on-demand via Puso Pilipinas, SMART Livestream, Solar Sports Channel 70 on Sky Cable and Channel 59 on Cable Link.