Lady Eagles get back at Lady Spikers
Ateneo imposed its will in the deciding set to pull off a vengeful 21-25, 25-22, 25-16, 21-25, 15-5 victory over rival De La Salle and clinch the top seeding in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament last night at a packed MOA Arena.
Showing its championship form when it mattered most, the Lady Eagles stormed to a 13-3 spread built around pinpoint kills and wicked blocks en route to completing the ego-boosting triumph that avenged their three-set loss to the Lady Spikers in the first round for a leading 12-2 after the elims.
The Lady Spikers saw their five-game winning streak snap as they dropped to 10-3 overall, settling for No. 2 in the semis regardless of the outcome of their final elims assignment against National U.
“Unlike the first round, we had better service reception and lessened our service errors today, the little details that coach Tai (Bundit) was talking about,” said skipper Alyssa Valdez, after the Loyola-based side got the better of their rivals in the rollercoaster game witnessed by 19,266.
Valdez bounced back from an 11-point output the first time to punch in a game-high 24 points and even helped defensively with 19 of the team’s 71 excellent digs.
It wasn’t all-Valdez, though, as Jho Maraguinot (14) and Bea de Leon (13) supported offensively while Jia Morado made 62 excellent sets. The Lady Eagles also showed their defensive strength, getting nine points off blocks, just one shy off DLSU’s numbers.
Ara Galang paced La Salle with 20 with Mary Joy Baron adding 15 and Cyd Demecillo chipping in 12. DLSU had 37 errors, including 17 at the service line.
La Salle threatened a repeat of the first round with a strong start, storming to a 24-15 lead en route to a 25-21 win. Getting some momentum from their late charge in the first, Ateneo took the next two stanzas for a 2-1 lead. La Salle, though, wouldn’t be denied and won the fourth to force the fifth.
Ateneo then made it a one-way street in the decider.
“We really came to play and enjoy the game. From the beginning I could see in the eyes of my teammates they wanted to win this one,” said Valdez.
University of the Philippines secured at least a playoff for the last Final Four seat after overcoming some anxious moments in a 25-17, 25-21, 25-20, 25-20 victory over also-ran UST.
Isa Molde scored 23 and was complemented by Marian Buitre (12), Nicole Tiamzon (10) and Kathy Bersola (10) as the Lady Maroons finished the elims with 8-6. UP can clinch the last semis seat outright if fifth running National U (7-5) drops its last outing against La Salle. A win by the Lady Bulldogs will force a playoff with UP. UST bowed out of the season with 5-9. In men’s play, holder Ateneo got back at firstround conqueror Adamson, 25-22, 25-17, 25-22, for a 13-1 slate in the elims and the No. 1 seed in the F4.
La Salle capped its season with a 25-16, 25-15, 25-18 demolition of winless University of the East, for 5-9.