ATENEO ON A ROLL
ATENEO rolled to its fifth win via a 25-8, 22-25, 25-16, 25-10 victory over Adamson University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Take away the team’s anemic second set, the Lady Eagles underscored their might in the succeeding frames to safely remain on top of the standings with a 5-1 won-lost record.
“I really admire my players for their sacrifices and hard work,” Ateneo Head Coach Oliver Almadro said. “They’re making my job a lot easier.”
Left with only two days rest after their straight-set win over the University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons on Sunday, the Lady Eagles barely showed fatigue against the lowly Lady Falcons.
Ponggay Gaston scattered 16 points on 10 attacks and six aces, while Kat Tolentino added 15 points off 10 spikes, four blocks and an ace for the Lady Eagles.
“I really challenged them because we had little time to rest before this game. I applaud my players because they needed to balance their studies and team practices,” Almadro said. “It paid off today.”
Adamson University actually started well with a 4-0 lead in the first set. But Ateneo regained its footing when it unleashed a 21-2 counterattack to take the opening frame.
It was total disaster for the Lady Falcons as their 11 errors outnumbered their total points in the set.
Refusing to let its guard down, Adamson University showed a semblance of a fight in the second set, but it was the lone highlight from the Lady Falcons side as the Lady Eagles, behind the duo of Gaston and Tolentino, bulldozed their way
to the victory.
Bea de Leon chipped in 14 points, while Deanna Wong facilitated the offensive assault with 29 excellent sets for the Lady Eagles.
Eli Soyud was the only double-digit scorer for Adamson University with 13 points on 11 attacks. Mary Joy Dacoron and Chiara May Permentilla had nine points apiece.
The Lady Falcons tied the University of the East Lady Warriors at the bottom with a 1-5 record.
In men’s play, National University surged to its fifth straight, 25-19, 2517, 25-15, over UP.
Ateneo bagged its third consecutive win with a 25-18, 25-22, 25-15 beating of Adamson University.