With its back against the wall, La Salle retaliated with championship force and flair.
The defending champion let loose the full strength of its armada to turn back Far Eastern University on Sunday night and firm up its grasp of the lead in the UAAP women’s volleyball at Filoil Flying V Centre.
The Lady Spikers kept their poise under pressure, firing crucial spikes and defending well to frustrate the opposition en route to a 25-17, 21-25, 16-25, 25-20, 15-5 win.
It was their eighth victory in 10 games.
Team captain Majoy Baron stepped up the plate to lead La Salle, scoring 18 points including clutch hits late in the deciding frame which the Lady Spikers completely dominated.
“We had difficulty with their serves and they also had very good service reception,” said Baron, trying to point out the factors in the protracted battle. “But I told my teammates let’s show our true character and in the end we wanted it the most.”
Baron, on her last tour of duty for La Salle, has been playing her best the past several matches while teammates Kiana Dy and Desiree Cheng also contributed on both ends.
“I need to start with myself,” said Baron. “And I think my teammates saw my efforts.”
Adamson arrested its tailspin with a hard-earned win over University of the East, 19-25, 25-11, 16-25, 25-16, 15-12, in the first women’s match.
Jema Galanza poured in 22 points and provided ballast for the Lady Falcons, who managed to snap a two-game losing streak and get back at their first-round tormentor.
But it was not easy.
The Lady Warriors, playing with little pressure having already won two games this season—equaling their total number of wins the previous two years—put the heat on the Lady Falcons all game long.
The Lady Falcons, who played in five of the 11 five-setters this season so far, committed 35 errors match and tried to compensate by scoring 62 points on attacks against 39 by the Lady Warriors.
The win was Adamson’s fourth in nine games and resuscitated its Final Four hopes as it lodged itself in the middle of the standings.
Adamson missed the services of Chiara Permentilla who sprained her left ankle and would sit out two games.
In the men’s division, National U clinched a spot in the Final Four after outlasting La Salle, 26-24, 19-25, 25-20, 28-26.