Gervacio powers Ateneo; Adamson thwarts UST

SKIPPER Dzi Gervacio continued her splendid play as Ateneo crushed University of the Philippines, 25-14, 25-8, 25-16, to tighten its grip on the No. 2 spot yesterday in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Adamson continued to keep pace with the leaders, thwarting University of Santo Tomas, 25-10, 25-19, 19-25, 25-16, to rebound from a sorry loss to La Salle in its last outing.

The Lady Eagles logged their second straight win and eighth overall in 11 matches with three games to play, but the Lady Falcons continue to put pressure on them, staying within a game of Ateneo at 7-4.

Gervacio, one of five players graduating this season for Ateneo, unloaded a season-high eight service aces for a 16-point output to support Alyssa Valdez, who rebounded from her poor showing against National University by finishing with a game-high 21 points and five digs.

“We were confident,” said Lady Eagles mentor Roger Gorayeb in Filipino.  “They (Lady Maroons) weren’t able to receive well and they were intimidated by our jump serves.”

In the men’s division, Romnick Rico had 23 hits as UST defeated UP, 25-19, 25-19, 21-25, 31-29, while La Salle upended Adamson, 23-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-18, with Red Christensen leading the way with 17 points.  The Growling Tigers and the Green Archers tied the Falcons in third place at 6-5.

Sheila Pineda, Mayette Zapanta and Pau Soriano, who were held down to single digits against the Lady Archers, delivered the goods for the San Marcelino-based tossers, while Faye Guevara also stepped up big.

“We really prepared hard for this game because we played bad against La Salle,” said Adamson coach Sherwin Meneses in Filipino.

Pineda and Zapanta tossed in 16 hits, Soriano had 15 points and Guevara scored 13 markers, including four blocks for the Lady Falcons.

With old reliables Maika Ortiz and Maru Banaticla struggling once more, Carmela Tunay carried the offensive load for the Tigresses with 11 hits.

UST slipped to 6-5 card, trailing Far Eastern University (6-4) in the race for the last semifinal slot.

Ateneo, meanwhile, simply dominated UP in every statistical department. With Gretchen Ho and Valdez contributing five blocks apiece, the Lady Eagles compiled 11 against the Lady Maroons’ 2.