The Lady Eagles also hope to stretch their winning run to four games when they collide with the Lady Tams in the main game at 4 p.m., shortly after the second-running Lyceum guns for a playoff for the last semis berth against College of St. Benilde in the opener at 2 p.m.

With a 3-0 win-loss card, another win by the the Lady Eagles will cement their grip of one of the two semifinal berths at stake in this single round robin quarters and earn them the right to join idle teams Adamson and San Sebastian College in the next round.

Ateneo, banking on the forays of its all-around Thai reinforcement Emron Phanusit, displayed its true form last week as it swept its last three assignments, including a thrilling win against the visiting University of San Jose-Recoletos last Friday.

That three-game romp allowed the Katipunan squad to have a crack at the fourth and last semis slot via the league’s three-of-five incentive rule.

"We hope to sustain our strong start. To do that, we still have to play as a team and improve on our defense," Ateneo mentor Michelle Laborte, a former guest player for the Lady Eagles, said.

Out to stop the Lady Eagles are the reigning UAAP champions who are expected to go all out to keep their flickering semis hopes alive in this tournament backed by Active White skin whitening products, Mail and More, ICT Call Center, 100Plus Energy Drink, Mikasa and Accel and organized by Sports Vision.

Both teams have split their head-to-head encounter during the eliminations, but Ateneo appeared to be in better form against FEU, which is coming off a disappointing 20-25, 25-15, 24-26, 25-17, 15-10 setback opposite the USJ-R last Sunday.

Macaila Morada and Shaira Gonzales will lead FEU’s offensive while the opposite court will have Charo Soriano, Phanusit, Carmina Acevedo and Patricia Taganas.

In the first game, Lyceum, bannered by Beverly Boto, the league’s No. 1 scorer, goes for a playoff berth for the fourth semis spot against CSB, which is already out of contention after skidding to its 13th straight loss, 10 coming for the double round eliminations.