Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
ATENEO looked as formidable even minus a key cog as the Lady Eagles clobbered University of Santo Tomas, 25-20, 25-18, 25-18, to clinch the first Final Four berth in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament Saturday at Philsports Arena.
“Everyone stepped up,” said Ateneo star Alyssa Valdez as the Lady Eagles cruised to their ninth win in 11 games even without Maddie Madayag, the league’s best server ruled out for the rest of the season due to an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury.
“That’s what coach (Tai Bundit) wanted—that we play as a team and we play happy.”
Clearly, the Lady Eagles were quick to adjust as they erected leads as high as nine points in the early sets on the way to securing their seventh straight semifinal appearance.
Valdez and Jho Maraguinot tossed in 14 points each as Amy Ahomiro also finished with her best output yet this season with 10 points, the last two on back-to-back aces that sealed the match for the Lady Eagles.
Ateneo completed a day’s sweep of UST with a 25-18, 21-25, 25-19, 25-16 victory in men’s action that also handed the Blue Eagles the first semifinal slot.
Ysay Marasigan had 12 kills and four blocks in a 17-point performance, while two-time MVP Marck Espejo scored all but one of his 16 points off attacks to lead the defending champion Eagles.
The Eagles kept the solo top spot with a 10-1 record that also assured them of at least a playoff for the twice-to-beat semifinal bonus.
In the other women’s match, Far Eastern University hacked out a hard-earned victory over National University, 27-25, 25-17, 22-25, 26-28, 15-10, to gain solo fourth at 6-5.
Bernadeth Pons pumped in a career-high 30 points built on 27 kills, a couple of aces and a block to lead a thrilling windup after the Lady Tamaraws blew a 2-0 set advantage.
Toni Rose Basas and Jerrili Malabanan, who combined for 41 points, also helped the Lady Tamaraws recover in the deciding fifth set where the team raced to a 10-6 start.
“We can’t afford to lose because the standings are very close,” said FEU coach Shaq delos Santos.
The Tigresses and the Lady Bulldogs fell to a share of fifth spot at 5-6.
Adamson also needed five sets to stop La Salle, 17-25, 25-21,19-25, 25-20, 15-13, in the other men’s match.
The Falcons improved to 8-3.