Historic sudden death for Ateneo, La Salle volleybelles
MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo and La Salle have rare feats in sight when they clash for the UAAP women’s volleyball championship Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The Lady Eagles, who forged the sudden death after winning Wednesday’s dramatic five-set thriller, seek to become just the second team in league history to overcome the thrice-to-beat advantage of the top seed.
“We just have to believe in ourselves,” newly crowned MVP Alyssa Valdez said after leading the Lady Eagles within a win of completing the season’s biggest upset.
While the Lady Eagles try to defy the odds, the Lady Spikers also aim to become the first team in over 40 years to bag four straight championships.
Far Eastern University last did the trick when it ruled the sport for five years starting in 1969.
“This means war,” La Salle star Abigail Maraño posted on her Twitter account after the Lady Spikers absorbed a painful loss to the Lady Eagles, 25-21, 25-23, 18-25, 16-25, 17-15, in Game 3 of the finals.
The Lady Spikers also vow to move forward from the controversial final call, which UAAP volleyball commissioner Otie Camangian described as “very fair” after a review of the game tape.
After rallying from a four-point deficit, the Lady Eagles wrapped it up after the referees called at match point a setting violation against La Salle’s Kim Fajardo.
“When there are five sets, it’s a matter of breaks,” said La Salle coach Ramil de Jesus. “That’s how it is. We just have to accept it.”
The Lady Spikers headed into the finals a heavy favorite after a 14-game elimination sweep to secure a thrice-to-beat advantage.
But the incredible incentive, given to teams that swept the eliminations, had been wiped out once since its introduction six years ago.
University of the Philippines pulled off the seemingly impossible feat in women’s table tennis last year at the expense of top-ranked La Salle.
And the Lady Eagles hope to do the same after shocking the Lady Spikers twice in the last three games. The once invincible Lady Spikers ca me into the title round unbeaten in two years.
“It was all heart,” said Ateneo’s Thai coach Anusorn “Tai” Bundit.
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