La Salle takes Game 1 of UAAP Finals, beats Ateneo

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Defending champion La Salle beat fierce rival Ateneo, 21-25, 29-27, 25-22, 25-20, in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball Finals Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Lady Spikers moved one win away from their fifth championship in seven years, and 10th title overall.

Season 78 Finals MVP Kim Kianna Dy put La Salle at match point, 24-19, before Mich Morente tried to inject some life into Ateneo’s dwindling hopes when her kill cut the deficit to four.

Dy, however, delivered again to finish off things off and put the Lady Spikers near a back-to-back title.

La Salle head coach Ramil de Jesus said his players drew inspiration from skipper Kim Fajardo, who willed the Lady Spikers in the pivotal second set.

“Kim’s talent is on another level, if she wants to do something she will do it, and she’s confident while doing it so I just let her do what she wants,” said de Jesus, who owns all of La Salle’s nine titles. 

“She really wanted to win and her leadership really showed when we were in trouble.”

La Salle had a commanding 51-38 advantage in spikes to offset its 40 errors.

The Lady Eagles, for their part, weren’t much better with 34 miscues.

Open hitter Tin Tiamzon led the defending champions with 15 points but she wasn’t the only one in green who did damage to Ateneo.

Dy had 14 points while Desiree Cheng and Fajardo added 10 points apiece.

Jhoana Maraguinot had 16 points to lead the Lady Eagles while Bea De Leon and Morente had 14 and 11 points, respectively.

Game 2 is on Saturday still at the Big Dome.