UAAP volleyball: Eya Laure best scorer, Bella Belen makes case for rookie-MVP
UST Tigresses’ Eya Laure (middle). UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — University of Santo Tomas star Eya Laure emerged as the best scorer of the UAAP Season 84 women’s volleyball tournament even as National University rookie Bella Belen also built a strong case for the MVP and Rookie of the Year.
Laure topped all scorers with 272 points from 244 spikes, 17 blocks, and 11 service aces, leading UST to a third seed finish with a 9-5 record.
Ateneo star Faith Nisperos, who is still eligible for the top Rookie award after her first season was canceled two years ago, placed second with 267 points from 228 attacks, 16 blocks, and 23 aces, while Belen ranked third in scoring with 203 points after leading NU to an outright Finals with its 14-0 elimination round sweep.
University of the Philippines rookie Alyssa Bertolano was fourth with 197 points, while La Salle’s Leiah Malaluan ranked fifth with 193 points.
Adamson’s Trisha Genesis (184 points), Ateneo’s Vanie Gandler (174), NU’s Alyssa Solomon (171), University of the East’s Ja Lana (170), and NU’s Cess Robles (162) complete the top 10 scorers.
ALL ROUNDER
NU’s Bella Belen instrumental in the Lady Bulldogs’ latest win. UAAP PHOTO
Meanwhile, Belen showcased her all-around skills after being part of the Top 10 in five of the seven skills department.
The 19-year-old outside hitter was the elimination round’s best server averaging 0.47 ace per set. She was also second among the best spikers with 38.96-percent success rate, No. 6 best receiver with her 40.85-percent efficiency rate, and No. 8 among in the best diggers with 2.38 digs per set.
Nisperos was second in serving with 0.43 ace per set, while Belen’s teammates Solomon (0.34) and Sheena Toring (0.32) were third and fourth, and Bertolano (0.31) was fifth.
Solomon was the best spiker after hitting 38.98-percent attack rate in 14 games. Belen only trailed by 0.02%. Their senior teammate Robles placed third with 37.57-percent, Bertolano (35.27-percent) and Nisperos (34.86-percent) were fourth and fifth, respectively.
Lams Lamina remained the Best Setter after 14 games, with 5.81 sets per frame. Adamson’s Louie Romero was a distant second with 4.70 sets per frame, followed by La Salle’s Marrione Alba (4.60), Ateneo’s Jaja Maraguinot (4.49) and UP’s Marianne Sotomil (3.80).
NU libero Jennifer Nierva was the best receiver with her 55.96-percent efficiency rate. UST’s Janel Delerio was second best receiver with 46.36-percent, followed by Ateneo’s Roma Mae Doromal (44.44-percent), La Salle’s libero Justine Jazareno (44.13-percent) and Jolina dela Cruz (41.83-percent), who was the only spiker in the department.
Jazareno was No.1 in digging with 4.78 excellent digs per set, ahead of Nierva, who averaged 4.40 digs per set. Far Eastern University’s Alexandra Juangco was third with 4.00, followed by UST’s Bernadett Pepito (2.96), and UE’s Jenina Zeta (2.70).
La Salle’s Thea Gagate was the best blocker with 0.60 blocks per set. Ateneo rookie AC Miner was second with 0.53 block average, followed by another Lady Spiker Fifi Sharma and UST’s KC Galdones, who are tied at third with 0.50 block per set each, and Ateneo’s Joan Narit was fifth with 0.49.
The UAAP will hand out the individual awards in Finals Game 2, where they will crown the MVP, Rookie of the Year, 1st and 2nd Best Outside Spikers, Best Opposite Spiker, 1st and 2nd Best Middle Blockers, Best Setter, and Best Libero.
