Lady Eagles clip Falcons
Defending champion Ateneo Lady Blue Eagles swooped down on the Adamson Falcons and decimated them with consummate ease, 25-19, 25-23, 25-16, and stayed on the pinnacle with their fifth straight win in the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena. Reigning MVP Alyssa Valdez stepped forward anew as the heart and soul of the Lady Eagles’ aerial power with a game-high 23 points, and playmaker Jia Morado had another tantalizing performance, tossing in 18 excellent sets, to underscore the might and power of the defending champs.
In the midst of another celebration, Valdez won’t blow kisses to the wind, reminding her fellow Lady Eagles not to savor victory too long and remain focused at the task at hand.
“Malayo pa, one game at a time lang muna, (Still a long way to the title, we’ll take it one game at a time),” said Valdez.
Valdez and Maddie Madayag were in the zone in the service area for the Lady Eagles, combining for eight of the team’s nine aces.
Jema Galanza had 11 hits and three digs while May Roque added 10 points for Adamson University, which fell to 1-4 at seventh place. Mylene Paat struggled with only five points in the face of the Eagles’ tough defense.
Later, University of Santo Tomas outlasted National University, 25-14, 25-18, 17-25, 19-25, 15-12 for its second straight win.
Cherry Rondina and EJ Laure came through with 21 hits apiece as the Tigresses overcame a stirring Lady Bulldogs fightback from two sets down to move up in sixth place.
“Mahirap talagang kalaban ang NU (it’s really tough playing NU),” said UST rookie coach Kungfu Reyes.
Jaja Santiago, who was not in the frontline when the Tigresses rallied from a 6-11 deficit in the deciding frame, finished with 23 hits, while Myla Pablo added 20 markers for the Lady Bulldogs.
NU dropped to 3-2, allowing idle De La Salle (3-1) to regain second spot.
In men’s play, James Natividad and Bryan Bagunas combined for 28 hits as the Bulldogs made quick work of University of the East, 25-14, 25-23, 25-21, to regain the solo lead with a 4-1 card, while Far Eastern University turned back UST, 25-21, 24-26, 31-29, 25-21, for its third win in five contests.
The Katipunan-based spikers dominated the Lady Falcons in spikes, 43-29.
Jude Garcia had 16 hits and four digs while Greg Dolor had five blocks for a 15-point effort as the Tamaraws prevailed over their old nemesis Growling Tigers, who fell to 1-4 as they failed to sustain their second set victory.
“Yung UST talagang ipinakita nila na karibal pa rin namin sila. Binigyan nila kami ng magandang laro,” said
FEU rookie coach Reynaldo Diaz.