Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
WITH A decisive and dominant finish, Ateneo got back at fierce rival La Salle Sunday.
The fifth set came swift and surprising even for Ateneo star Alyssa Valdez, who said she didn’t know exactly how the Lady Eagles overpowered the Lady Spikers in the decisive frame to cap a 21-25, 25-22, 25-16, 21-25, 15-5 victory in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the jampacked Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
“We really came here to play and enjoy the game,” said Valdez, the two-time Most Valuable Player. “Everything else was a bonus.”
Over a month since the Lady Spikers whipped the defending champions in straight sets, 25-22, 25-14, 25-18, Valdez said the Lady Eagles hardly talked about a payback from that loss.
“We’re just relieved that we’re able to show our game,” said Valdez as the Lady Eagles clinched the No. 1 spot at 12-2.
The Lady Eagles took their turn in shocking the Lady Spikers with a commanding fifth set where they surprisingly zoomed ahead, 11-2, after four tight sets in front of a boisterous crowd of 19,266.
“My teammates were inspired to play and they really wanted to play,” said Valdez, who powered the Lady Eagles with 24 points—20 off attacks. “If you see your teammates like that, you really want to do your best. And we just played happy today.”
Jhoanna Maraguinot chipped in 14 points, the last one pushing the Lady Eagles at set point before a Mika Reyes service error sealed the match.
Bea De Leon, who added 13 points, also starred in the fifth frame where the Lady Eagles unloaded nine straight points for a whopping 11-2 advantage.
La Salle slipped to second with a 10-3 record, but will head into the Final Four with a twice-to-beat advantage just like Ateneo.
Ara Galang paced the Lady Spikers with 20 points.
Ateneo also gained revenge in men’s action as the Blue Eagles blasted Adamson, 25-22, 25-17, 25-22, to secure the top spot with a 13-1 record.
The Eagles avenged their lone loss versus the Falcons with reigning Marck Espejo leading with 17 points, highlighted by five aces.
In the other women’s match, University of the Philippines boosted its Final Four chances after rallying to a 17-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-20 victory over University of Santo Tomas.
UP secured solo fourth spot at 8-6.
The youthful Lady Maroons can clinch the last semifinal slot if National University (7-6) loses to La Salle on Wednesday.
Isa Molde, the frontrunner for top rookie honors, led UP in every scoring department with 16 attacks, three blocks and four aces for a game-high 23 points.