Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
De La Salle University will head into the Final Four on a high after trouncing National University, 25-14, 21-25, 25-19, 25-15, in the final game of the elimination round in the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball Wednesday night at Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.
It was the Mika Reyes show in the final moments of the match as she scored three of the Lady Spikers’ last four points on service aces to seal her team’s 11th win in 14 games.
La Salle, which already secured the No. 2 seed and a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals, also booted NU (7-7) out of Final Four contention.
The Lady Spikers’ victory also awarded University of the Philippines the last semis spot with an 8-6 mark. The Lady Maroons, who will play top-seed Ateneo, would’ve played a playoff for No. 4 had the Lady Bulldogs won.
“I told the girls it will be hard to be in the semis if we don’t know what we’re capable of,” De Jesus said in Filipino. “This was a test for us because we’re going to have a hard time in the semis if they don’t play the way they should.”
Kim Dy was on point for La Salle putting up a career-high 25 points while Mary Joy Baron added 13.
Jaja Santiago led the Lady Bulldogs, who will miss the Final Four for the first time in three seasons, with 14 points.