Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Defending champion La Salle pounced on a sloppy Far Eastern University side to win, 29-27, 25-21, 25-22, in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball Finals Saturday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Lady Spikers, who are in their 10th straight appearance in the championship round, shoot for a three-peat in Game 2 on Wednesday.
Kim Kianna Dy had a team-high 10 points while reigning MVP Majoy Baron was a force on the defensive end with four of his eight points coming off blocks for La Salle.
Dawn Macandili, La Salle’s third graduating star apart from Dy and Baron, was also in her element with 24 excellent digs, including a slew of diving saves.
“We expected a hard-fought game against FEU. FEU hardly has a weak point in their rotation,” said DLSU head coach Ramil de Jesus in Filipino.
The Lady Spikers went on a telling 7-0 run in the third set started slow in the last two sets, staring at a 2-6 deficit in the second before trailing, 3-8, in the third.
FEU made its first trip to the finals since 2008 and it didn’t go down without a fight.
The Lady Tamaraws nearly stole the opening set despite committing 17 errors but they just couldn’t get it done when it mattered most.
They blew a pair of set points in the first frame while squandering an early 6-2 edge in the second set and a 15-12 advantage in the third.
Heather Guino-o picked up the slack for FEU with a game-best 14 points but committed the service error giving La Salle’s final point as MVP candidate Bernadeth Pons played erratic and scored only nine.
“It’s not over yet. Whatever happened tonight, we just have to look at the positives,” said FEU head coach George Pascua in Filipino.