Ateneo, UP rise

Ateneo moved within a win of a twice-to-beat edge while University of the Philippines boosted its Final Four bid in the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament at Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.

The Lady Eagles posted a quick three-set sweep of the Adamson Lady Falcons, 25-13, 25-13, 25-11, while the Lady Maroons trounced the National University Lady Bulldogs, 25-14, 25-27, 25-21, 25-12.

With its 10th win in 12 games, Ateneo regained first spot from arch rival and defending champion La Salle (9-2).

Kim Gequillana, who served 16 straight times as Ateneo jumped to a 16-0 lead, closed things out for the Lady Eagles with a down the line attack.

With Ateneo inching toward the semifinal bonus, assistant coach Sherwin Meneses said their game against University of the East is of utmost importance.

“We have to be prepared against UE and we have a week to get ready and wait for coach Tai [Bundit],” said Meneses. “We have to win against UE because that will be the quickest way to get twice-to-beat before we face La Salle in the final game of the eliminations.”

Meneses is the man in charge of the Lady Eagles as Bundit went to Thailand to attend to his responsibilities in the Royal Thai Air Force.

Gequillana led Ateneo with 11 points while Mich Morente added seven.

Ateneo had the luxury of playing all its players, giving starters Jia Morado, Jho Maraguinot, Gizelle Tan, and Kat Tolentino a breather by the end of the third set.

Joy Dacoron had eight points for the 0-12 Lady Falcons, who missed skipper Jema Galanza due to an illness.

The Lady Maroons, who’ve struggled in their past seven games, banked on Marian Buitre to finish off the Lady Bulldogs and climb to 7-5 in a tie for fourth place with their victims in the eight-team field.

UP assistant coach Rald Ricafort said the Lady Maroons have to play with a sense of urgency because one slip could prove fatal for their Final Four hopes.

“Our morale is slowly improving after we went 1-5 in the middle of our schedule,” said Ricafort. “We’re in the process of regaining our confidence we lost in the losses.”

UP played just eight players, including the libero, but six of those players managed to get into the score sheet and five finished in double figures.

Kathy Bersola, Isa Molde, and Diana Carlos all had 14 to lead UP. —BONG LOZADA, INQUIRER.NET