THE HEAT IS ON

IT is getting more interesting as the season gets deeper.

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) volleyball tournament for women seems to be getting more patronage this year due to unpredictable circumstances.

The women's team of National University, a former UAAP champion, upset defending champion De La Salle Lady Spikers in four hair-raising sets last weekend.

The win sent NU to a tie with University of Santo Tomas on top with 10-2 win-loss records. La Salle dropped to third place with a 9-2 card.

We are very happy for NU even though they know it is only for a short period of time. Every volleyball fanatic would know that they defeated DLSU because last season's UAAP Most Valuable Player Angel Canino did not play the game due to an arm injury.

I'm sure this is why the best national volleyball coach in the land, Ramil de Jesus, knew he could afford to lose one more game without Canino and prepare to face league leader University of Santo Tomas on April 27 fully armed.

However, things are also getting worse for UST, which was stunned by Far Eastern University last weekend.

So, the top four teams this year are NU, UST, DLSU and FEU (7-4).

Coach Ramil, meanwhile, knows he cannot afford to play without Canino in the Final Four and hopefully, the Finals.

Now, the plot thickens.

Canino has not played for three consecutive games. Everyone must be buying tickets now for the crucial UST-La Salle game.

La Salle played their hearts out against NU but they knew it is difficult to be champions again this year without Canino. It's like Kevin Quiambao not playing for the De La Salle Green Archers in men's basketball.

Bacolod's pride Canino knows this as well and we only pray she remains humble and steadfast.

Kudos to La Salle's Gigate and Laput for taking the cudgel in the absence of Canino.

Who is GOAT?

French Open organizers announced that the greatest tennis icon Rafa Nadal will play and retire after the next one this June.

Fans immediately bought tickets for the French Open and after two days, they were forced to stop selling. No more seats to buy for now.

That's the greatness of Rafa, who will surely be included in the "Greatest Of All Time" discussion. We're still lucky to see his passion and never say die attitude for the last many years. An example to behold for the upcoming athletes, not only in tennis, but in all sports.

"There will never be anyone like him for now," according to another tennis great, Australian Rod Laver.

2024-04-16T00:11:24Z dg43tfdfdgfd