“Sometimes in volleyball, your heart is weak, but when heartstrong, you believe you can win,” said Ateneo head coach Anusorn Tai Bundit. “I just [told] everyone don’t stop fighting.” Photo by Martin San Diego

Dumped in death ground, Ateneo de Manila University refused to quit.

The young and inexperienced Lady Eagles, facing an 8-12 deficit in the fifth set, unleashed a desperate rampage and with the breaks of the game favoring them, salvaged a 25-21, 25-23, 18-25, 16-25, 17-15 win over the De La Salle Lady Spikers in Game 3 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball finals Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Lady Eagles scored three straight points off two middle hits by Kiwi Ahomiro and a double block by Michelle Morente and Jia Morado on Ara Galang’s spike.

Undaunted, season best setter replied with his second drop ball for a 13-11 cushion but season most valuable player Alyssa Valdez hit a difficult crosscourt spike to La Salle’s zone four and after a wide spike by Ara Galang, bench player Marge Tejada single-handedly blocked Abi Marano’s running spike for match point, 15-14.

Still, Galang managed to connect on a spike to Ateneo’s zone one while she and Mika Reyes shut the door on Tejada’s quick hit for championship point, 16-15.

Facing defeat, the Lady Eagles fought fire against fire as Valdez spiked a down-the-line hit and in the subsequent play, super rookie Michelle Morente connected on a power spike against the defense of Reyes.

RELATED: FULL FRAME: Lady Eagles outlast Lady Spikers to force decider

The Lady Eagles eventually won via technicality, as Fajardo was flagged by first referee Bob Malenab to have illegally attempted a third drop ball in the front row even if she was out of rotation for being in the back row.

“Sometimes in volleyball, your heart is weak, but when heartstrong, you believe you can win,” said Ateneo head coach Anusorn Tai Bundit. “I just [told] everyone don’t stop fighting.”

Just Ateneo, La Salle did not stop fighting. Relinquishing the first two sets, the Lady Spikers dominated in the next two sets through Galang’s unstoppable power spikes and overall defense, while Fajardo played craftily in setting and scoring off dropballs.

Valdez attributed Ateneo’s paltry plays in the middle sets to their inexperience.

“We were rattled because we did not expect to be up by two sets but La Salle will come back anytime. It was also the first time I saw Jia (Morado) got rattled especially all our spikes were checked by [La Salle’s] blockers,” she explained.

“But in the fifth set, it was all heart, it was all teamwork. Mich [Morente] was on fire and her sacrifices in practice, given that Den [Lazaro] and I could not practice hard because of injuries, paid off,” she said.

Valdez led her team with 22 points while Morente and Ahomiro had 18 points apiece while Galang single-handedly towed her team with 28 points, five of which are blocks, while excellently digging 15 spikes from Ateneo.

The winner-take-all game four will be played on March 15 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

RELATED: FULL FRAME: Lady Eagles outlast Lady Spikers to force decider

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