The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Games on Saturday
(Filoil EcoOil Centre, San Juan)
11 a.m. – CSB vs CSJL
2 p.m. – EAC vs vs FEU
5 p.m. – UE vs NU
Reigning champion National U plunges to its highly-anticipated debut against the retooled University of the East in the second week of the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-Season Championship Season 2 Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Game time is at 5 p.m. for the main event of the triple-header action in Pool A as the Lady Bulldogs test the mettle of the new-look Lady Warriors led by super rookie Casiey Dongallo.
NU has a slew of multiple international stints representing the country to bank on aside from being the defending champion after sweeping the inaugural SSL season last year, making it the undisputed heavy title favorite once more.
But the Lady Bulldogs remain wary of the young and hungry Lady Warriors, who smothered Jose Rizal U, 25-14, 25-21, 25-19, in the opener of SSL backed by Mikasa, Eurotel, Victory Liner, Summit Bottle Water, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, R and B Milk Tea, Potato Corner, Rebel Sports, Converge ICT Solutions and Genius Sports.
“I think the game will be very exciting for everyone as UE is making a new name in the UAAP. They’re doing great. Kami naman as a team, we want to show them what we learned from the national team and what we can do as a team here,” said new Lady Bulldogs skipper Erin Pangilinan.
Both squads will parade new coaches as Norman Miguel returned to the NU head coaching post while Jerry Yee, concurrent mentor of the College of St. Benilde in the NCAA, transitioned to UE after a historic stint with Adamson.
And while the Lady Warriors boast youth firepower with Dongallo, the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational (GVIL) MVP last summer, at the helm – the lethal duo of Alyssa Solomon and Mhicaela Belen are more than capable of holding the fort.
Solomon was the inaugural SSL MVP while Belen was the first-ever Rookie-MVP in UAAP women’s volleyball in Season 84.
“Nasa amin yung adjustment since galing kami sa national team stint. Pupuliduhin namin kung ano yung natutunan namin at kung ano pa ‘yung kulang namin of course with coach Norman’s new system,” added Pangilinan.
Meanwhile, back-to-back champion CSB also begins its redemption bid against Colegio de San Juan de Letran (0-1) at 11 a.m. in Pool C after a stunning quarterfinal exit in the SSL National Invitationals featuring champions from all over the country.
At 2 p.m., Far Eastern U (1-0) shoots for a second straight win against the debuting Emilio Aguinaldo College in Pool D to complete the triple-header of SSL Season 2 in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education and the Philippine Sports Commission.
All games will be accessible across all platforms live and on-demand through the social media pages of Plus Network and SSL with Solar Sports, Blast TV and Aliw Channel 23 as TV partners.