Still up in the air

Ateneo nailed top spot on Sunday, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that bitter rival La Salle is right behind.

Far Eastern University made sure of that on Sunday night after pulling out a come-from-behind 25-22, 13-25, 15-25, 27-25, 15-8 victory over the Lady Spikers that threw a monkey wrench in La Salle’s twice-to-beat bid in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Ateneo stamped its class over University of the East, carving out a 25-20, 27-25, 25-9 triumph earlier to assure itself of the No. 1 spot—and the first Final Four bonus that comes with it.

There wasn’t a doubt about the outcome despite a packet of resistance offered by the Lady Warriors in the first two sets, as the Lady Eagles closed out the eliminations with a league-best 12-2 record.

They will clash with the Lady Tamaraws, the No. 4 seeds who will go into the semifinals with all the morale boost they could get after that thrilling conquest of the Lady Spikers.

Heather Guino-o unloaded 24 points, while teammate Jerrili Malabanan chipped in 15 as the Lady Tamaraws exacted revenge over their losses to the three-time defending champion Lady Spikers that dates all the way back to last season’s Finals.

“There is pressure on us [facing Ateneo in the Final Four] but we have to translate that into something positive to achieve that goal,” said Guino-o.

La Salle finished with a 10-4 card like idle University of Santo Tomas. They dispute No. 2 Wednesday.