Lady Tams foil Bulldogs; UP belles stun Tigresses
Games Saturday (MOA Arena) 8 a.m. – UST vs FEU (Men) 10 a.m. – DLSU vs Ateneo (Men) 2 p.m. – UST vs FEU (Women) 4 p.m. – DLSU vs Ateneo (Women)
Far Eastern U pounded National U’s poor reception with a slew of aces and neutralized Jaja Santiago with solid blocking, pulling off a 25-22, 25-27, 25-13, 25-20 victory that halted the Lady Bulldogs’ run in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center last night.
The Lady Tamaraws unloaded 15 service aces and limited Santiago’s touches on the ball to fashion out the four-set triumph that foiled the Lady Bulldogs’ sweep bid and force a three-way tie at second at 4-2 with the idle Ateneo Lady Eagles and the La Salle Spikers.
“Our gameplan on our service-receive worked wonders and the girls were able to hold off Jaja,” said FEU mentor George Pascua, whose wards’ superb all-around game also negated their 30-error stint.
Bernadeth Pons finished with 18 hits and 11 excellent receptions while ChinChin Basas had two blocks for a 16-point outing for the Lady Tams.
Risa Sato had 14 markers and 11 digs while Santiago chipped in 13 points, including two blocks, for the Lady Bulldogs, who slipped to 5-1.
UP actually set the tone of reversals earlier as the Lady Maroons stunned the UST Tigresses, 31-33, 25-23, 25-16, 25-12, to check their four-game skid for a 2-4 mark.
Tots Carlos unloaded a season-high 32 points for the Diliman-based squad.
Tying the Tigresses in sixth place at 2-4, Kenyan coach Godfrey Okumu heaved a sigh of relief after the Lady Maroons played their best game of the season.
“We won but UST is a very good team, aggressive. We knew that it won’t be easy. But if we defend well, kept our heads in the game, then the result will be positive. We worked on our defense,” said Okumu.
Everything clicked for UP, with setter Rose Cailing and libero Justine Dorog in the rotation along with Ayel Estrañero, who can orchestrate and defend the floor as well.
“It would work and I believe it will continue working. Because it’s like having two liberos and two setters on the court. That’s the piece that we’re missing,” said Okumu.
“But as I said before, we are still growing, we are still building. I hope on our next game, on the weekend (against NU), we will also fight, defend well and get good results.”
The Lady Maroons’ blocking was also solid with Marist Layug and Marian Buitre combining nine of the team’s total of 15.
Isa Molde also produced her best scoring output for UP with 24 points and seven digs.
Sisi Rondina finished with 23 points and nine digs while Tin Francisco had three blocks and two service aces for a 12-point outing for UST, still without its injured key players Milena Alessandrini and Rica Rivera.