Empire strikes back

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

It wasn’t just that defending champion La Salle had its morale beaten by its first back-to-back defeats in a long while. The Lady Spikers were dealt an additional blow when skipper and heavy scorer Des Cheng was scratched from the roster because of a shoulder injury.

But this is La Salle, which has ruled the league with an iron fist for quite some time now. When all else fails, the team’s swag will carry it through. And on Saturday, Tin Tiamzon provided the emotional fuel for the Lady Spikers.

“I knew since Wednesday that Ate Des had the injury and that she needs to rest,” said Tiamzon in Filipino. “So I told ate Des ‘Ate, I’ll take care of this just take a break and take your time. Just know that I got you covered.’”

Tiamzon had 10 points and provided a lot of the leadership that Cheng normally shouldered while wonder rookie added 14 points as La Salle whipped University of the East, 25-18, 25-20, 25-18, at Filoil Flying V Centre to wiggle out of its mini slump in UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball action.

Since dropping two straight games in a Finals loss to Ateneo in Season 77, The Lady Spikers have never dropped consecutive matches—they hardly lose in the first place.

But they came into the match on the heels of defeats to University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas.

But except when it trailed by seven early in the second set, La Salle left no doubt it was on its way to its fourth win in six outings. UST’s Tigresses later matched that record, as rookie Eya Laure and veterans Sisi Rondina and Dimdim Pacres did a lot of heavy lifting in a 26-24, 25-17, 23-25, 25-17 victory over a young National U squad.

The Tigresses were still without high-scoring sophomore Milena Alessandrini but again made up for her lost points with a lot of grit from Rondina and the rest of the UST squad, which rallied after facing set point—down three—to take the opening frame.

That basically set the tone of the match as UST took control most of the way except in the third frame where they allowed NU’s sensational novice Princess Robles to score three successive attacks to force a fourth set.

“I always have to remind them not to take their opponents lightly,” said UST coach Kungfu Reyes in Filipino. “Good thing we woke up in time because in the third set we were like sleeping.”

Laure scored 20 points, while Rondina and Pacres added 16 and 12, respectively.

Alessandrini, UST’s 6-foot-2 hitter, is not expected to come back anytime soon due to her knee injury but so far, the Tigresses are doing well picking up the slack. They are hoping to pile up enough wins to make the Final Four for the first time in three seasons.

Lourdes Clemente and Aduke Ogunsanya also made solid contributions the Lady Spikers, who lost in attacks, 30-32, but made up for that with more kill-blocks (9-2) and service aces (10-2).

Despite the win, Tiamzon said La Salle is far from its top form.

“That wasn’t our A-game,” she said. “It’s a process and this season still has a long way to go. We just have to push through.” —WITH A REPORT FROM BONG LOZADA