La Salle faces UST, eyes share of lead

AFTER stopping Alyssa Valdez and the Lady Eagles, Mary Joy Baron
and the Lady Spikers hope to topple UST’s Tigresses. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

FOR LA SALLE coach Ramil de Jesus, the Lady Spikers did more than just halt rival Ateneo’s two-year winning streak. Their dominating sweep of the two-time champions may have just instilled fear again in the rest of the UAAP women’s volleyball field.

“That’s what I’ve been telling them, that we have to bring back the respect of the opponents,” said De Jesus.

The Lady Spikers, regaining the swagger of their past champion teams, target a share of the lead versus University of Santo Tomas at 4 p.m. today at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

A victory will give the Lady Spikers a league-best 6-1 record to tie the Lady Eagles, their surprise victim last weekend who absorbed a first loss in 25 games since 2014.

National University and University of the Philippines, tied at

3-3, dispute the solo fourth spot in the 2 p.m. match on the last day of the first-round eliminations.

Led by the star trio of Ara Galang, Kim Fajardo and Mika Reyes, the Lady Spikers whipped the Lady Eagles, 25-22, 25-14, 25-18, in a blockbuster showdown that drew over 16,000 fans.

“Whatever happens, and whatever situation, we’ll help each other out,” said Fajardo, who tallied seven aces in a 13-point outing against the Lady Eagles.

Galang, who got sidelined late last season due to a knee injury, also displayed her bold plays again in the huge upset where she tossed in 10 points.

“I want to show everyone that I’m already at 100 percent,” said Galang.