MANILA, Philippines-See you in the Finals.
The defending champions Ateneo Lady Eagles disposed of the De La Salle Lady Spikers, 25-20, 21-25, 25-23, 27-25, Wednesday evening at the Mall of Asia Arena to earn a bye to the UAAP Season 77 Volleyball Finals.
Ateneo finished the eliminations with a perfect 14-0 record for the outright finals berth and a golden thrice-to-beat advantage, while its rival La Salle settled for second place with a 12-2 card.
La Salle’s two losses were courtesy of the Lady Eagles.
With the holy ash on their foreheads, the Lady Eagles got an unexpected help from utility Jhoana Maraguinot to seal the sweep.
Tied in the fourth set at 24-24, team captain Alyssa Valdez could not put the finishing touches, but Maraguinot, an unassuming 19-year-old, was there to step in clutch.
After a service error from Jia Morado put the boards at 25-25, Maraguinot nailed two crosscourt kills that sent the Lady Eagles into frenzy.
Valdez said that it would be a challenge for them, and for the future Ateneo Lady Eagles, to maintain the 14-0 standard.
“It’s just one more challenge for us, it’s a challenge that we should maintain,” Valdez said whose team was the first Atenean squad to sweep the UAAP Women’s Volleyball Tournament. “We will make this a motivation to help us improve.”
Ateneo also enjoyed the much-needed services of rookie Bea de Leon who missed almost two weeks because of a finger injury she sustained during one of team’s practices.
La Salle had a two-point lead, 19-17, in the fourth and behind a raucous green army was feeling it.
Ella de Jesus and Maraguinot , however, would level things at 19-19.
Ara Galang’s counter made it 20-19, which would be La Salle’s final lead.
Morado would give Ateneo the match point, 24-22, but Mika Reyes blocked De Leon to cut the deficit to one.
An unlikely miss from Valdez gave La Salle the 24-24 tie.
During the 24-24 deadlock, Valdez said that she found no signs of pressure from her team. Everyone was smiling as what their coach Tai Bundit would always tell them in his best English, be “happy.”
“When it was tied at 24, everybody was smiling like it was not a crucial time in the match,” Valdez said.
With Ateneo on top, the rest of the final four contenders will battle it out in a stepladder semifinal with La Salle holding a twice-to-beat advantage.
Valdez added that their Finals bye is a blessing from God and if they did not get it, then it wasn’t meant for them.
“It’s all for the glory of God,” she said.
Valdez led Ateneo with 29 points while de Leon and Maraguinot added 11 and 10 respectively.
La Salle captain Ara Galang willed her team for 20 points but got little help with Reyes the next in the scoring list with eight.
RELATED STORY
Ateneo, La Salle volleybelles keep 1-2 spots
Ateneo swoops down on La Salle, claims UAAP women’s volleyball top spot