MANILA, Philippines—Fille Cainglet returned to help Ateneo rally past fluttering Philippine Army, 25-21, 19-25, 22-25, 25-18, 15-13, Sunday in Game 1 of their best-of-three series for third place in the Shakey’s V-League Season 9 Open Conference at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Cainglet, who missed a handful of games in lieu of her studies, picked up where she left off with 18 points.
Alyssa Valdez, the former University of Santo Tomas high school standout, led the Lady Eagles with 22 points, 21 of which were kills.
But it was the bubbly Cainglet who made the difference on both ends.
The Lady Troopers, who were swept in the semifinals by Cagayan-Perpetual Help, wavered as the game grew weary.
Army, a team composed of icons such as Rachel Daquis, Michelle Carolino and Tina Salak, just couldn’t finish off lone pure collegiate team Ateneo, not when unforced errors piled up.
Daquis had a team-high 16 points while Carolino and Joanne Bunag added 14 each.
Ateneo got its game going in the latter part as its net defense spelled trouble for the Lady Troopers’ attackers.
Marge Tejada braved and blocked a strong attempt by Daquis that put the Lady Eagles in match point, 14-10, but the Lady Troopers, last conference’s champions, strung up three straight points capped by a patented Salak quick tip.
Ateneo answered back with Tejada coming through again this time on a spike to seal the game.
Angeline Gervacio also had 18 points for the Lady Eagles.