MANILA, Philippines — NCAA finalist Arellano stunned UAAP champion Ateneo, 21-25, 25-16, 17-25, 25-20, 15-13, in the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 First Conference Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The Lady Chiefs found themselves on the verge of a collapse despite taking an 11-5 lead in the fifth set before regrouping just in time to nail their second win in as many outings and sit atop the standings in Group A.
“We prepared hard against them. We made sure Lazaro won’t be able to receive that much because she’s a good receiver and that every time we have two blockers put on Valdez,” said Arellano coach Obet Javier in Filipino.
“Ateneo also had lapses that we were able to take advantage of,” Javier added.
The Lady Eagles, who slipped to 1-1, had two crucial errors in the deciding set that allowed the lanky Danna Henson to put the game away with the game-clinching hit.
Henson and CJ Rosario led the Lady Chiefs, who lost to the Perpetual Help Lady Altas in the NCAA Season 89.
UAAP Season and Finals MVP Alyssa Valdez still wound up with 20 points but was only successful on 17 out of her 56 attempts on spike.
Michelle Morente added 15 points for Ateneo, which beat Adamson in its opening game.
Denden Lazaro only had nine digs as the Lady Eagles committed 41 miscues as compared to the Lady Chiefs’ 30.