Lady Spikers, Eaglets stay unscathed

LA SALLE hurdled a tough foe to grab the lead in women’s volleyball at 5-0 while National University and Ateneo overwhelmed separate opponents in juniors basketball to stay on top with 4-0 slates in UAAP action yesterday.

What initially looked like a cruise turned into a tight battle for the Lady Spikers, who needed the heroics of Ara Galang anew to forge a 25-16, 21-25, 25-23, 25-22 victory over a gritty Far Eastern University side at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Galang sizzled with 22 points, 19 on attacks, to lift the Lady Spikers  past a Lady Tamaraws crew led by Bernadeth Pons.

Earlier, Kathy Bersola tossed in 12 points, including half of the team’s eight blocks, as University of the Philippines rolled past winless University of the East, 25-14, 25-19, 25-16, for its second triumph in five matches.

Defending men’s champion NU also stayed perfect at 5-0 with Peter Torres, Fauzi Ismail and Edwin Tolentino combining for 37 points in their 25-15, 25-23, 25-22 blasting of UE.

Ateneo, led by MVP Marck Espejo’s 16-point effort, downed La Salle, 26-24, 25-15, 25-23, for a 3-2 card.

Over at Blue Eagle gym, the defending champion Bullpups crushed University of Santo Tomas, 71-44, behind Philip Manalang (14 points) and Mark Dyke (12 points and 11 rebounds).