Ateneo-Motolite may have a problem with slow starts, but it certainly doesn’t have an issue finishing strong.
Ateneo again proved its endgame strength after besting hard-fighting Adamson-Akari, 17-25, 25-23, 25-20, 21-25, 15-12, Sunday night to register its second straight win in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at Filoil Flying V Centre.
The Lady Eagles were expected to cruise against the winless Lady Falcons.
Instead the Lady Eagles encountered a team desperate to score its first win, dragging Ateneo to a five-set thriller that lasted for two hours and 45 minutes.
“In the end it was all heart,” said Kat Tolentino who fired 28 points for Ateneo, including 20 attacks coming from all directions.
It was Ateneo’s second game in as many days and under similar circumstances in its win over Iriga-Navy the day before, one where it had to be jolted by a surprisingly inspired opponent.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re physically better or more talented, but what’s important is that you play your hearts out and come together as a team,” Tolentino added.
Adamson has lost all its six games in the conference, but its level of play belied that, coming around against the triple towers of Ateneo—Tolentino, Maddie Madayag and Bea de Leon—to give the Lady Eagles troubles all night long.
Unheralded spiker Bern Flora unloaded 26 points for the Lady Falcons who zoomed to an 8-0 start in the fourth that not even the Lady Eagles’ highly efficient system and individual talent could surmount.
“We just can’t give up, and I guess we pushed ourselves very hard and remained patient,” said Tolentino of Ateneo’s finishing kick that ensured its fourth win in five outings.
“We trusted each other knowing that we can play together and win as a team,” added Tolentino, referring to the fifth set which saw them leading 8-3 only to witness Adamson clawing back to within 8-9.
On Saturday, Ateneo moved past Iriga-Navy, 25-19, 29-27, 25-14, while PetroGazz drubbed Adamson, 25-17, 25-20, 25-13, for its fourth win in seven games.
Like Adamson, Iriga is winless in six starts.