Ateneo too much for SSC Alyssa Valdez makes surprise appearance
Games Saturday (The Arena, San Juan) 12:45 p.m. – Arellano vs NU 3 p.m. – FEU vs PUP 5 p.m. – San Sebastian vs TIP
Alyssa Valdez made a surprise appearance in the third set as Ateneo overwhelmed San Sebastian, 25-17, 25-13, 25-21, in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Collegiate Conference yesterday at The Arena in San Juan.
Though scheduled to miss most of the tournament, Valdez gave the partisan Ateneo crowd an added treat when she came in to help the Lady Eagles finish the job.
The win was the second straight for Ateneo which took advantage of San Sebastian’s shaky floor defense to pile up points, especially in the second set.
Valdez finished with five points in a cameo role, complimenting another impressive performance by Jhoanna Maraguinot, who topscored for Ateneo with 13 markers highlighted by 10 kills.
The two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player sat out Ateneo’s opening day romp over University of Santo Tomas last July 11, with Ateneo assistant coach Parley Tupaz even hinting that Valdez may not play the rest of the conference.
Valdez had a busy summer schedule following Ateneo’s second straight UAAP title run, leading PLDT to the V-League Open Conference crown and also represented the country in the Asian U-23 Women’s Volleyball Championship and the Singapore Southeast Asian Games.
But an eye infection sustained by Ella de Jesus, coupled with injuries to Mae Tajima, Jia Morado and Kat Tolentino forced Valdez to cut short her rest.
“Dapat lagi lang ready, kasi yun naman talaga ang sinasabi sa’kin ni coach. Actually kaninang umaga ko lang nalaman na maglalaro ako,” said Valdez.
“Nalaman lang namin na may infection sa mata si Ella so sobrang emergency lang talaga ang pag gamit sakin.”
Kim Gequillana added nine spikes and two service aces for Ateneo, which needed 71 minutes to deal San Sebastian its second straight loss.
No San Sebastian player scored in double figures with Jolina Labiano and Denice Lim contributing nine points each.
Defending champion Far Eastern University and National University downed their respective rivals to join Ateneo and College of St. Benilde with similar 2-0 slates.
Bernadeth Pons scored 21 points, anchored on 18 kills as the Lady Tamaraws dumped the NCAA titlist Arellano University Lady Chiefs, 2523, 21-25, 25-21, 25-21. Jovelyn Gonzaga backstopped Pons with 15 markers.
Earlier, Jaja Santiago fired 23 points in the Lady Bulldogs’ 25-16, 2514, 25-16 triumph over the University of Batangas Lady Brahmans.