Japan-trained DLSU Lady Archers and FEU Tamaraws scalped their respective rivals on the second playdate of the opening weekend of UAAP Season 73 Volleyball tournament.
By: Geoff Latayan
Four teams won their debut matches to start their UAAP Season 73 on a bright note.
But among those four, last year’s runners-up FEU Tamaraws and DLSU Lady Archers stamped on a weekend to remember as they pulled off resounding conquests over their assigned foes and tell their other rivals that they should not be counted out in the race to the top.
The Lady Spikers zoomed past the AdU Lady Falcons in straight sets, 25-14, 25-13 and 25-15 to annex their first win of the season.
The quartet of Jacqueline Alarca, Abigail Maraño, Charleen Cruz and Stephanie Mercado scored a combined 48 points to lead the Japan-trained Lady Spikers, who started slowly in the early goings of the first set as they fell behind 0-3.
However, the Taft-based volleybelles got their bearings back and cashed in on what they had learned from their volleyball sensei in Japan as they provided intimidation on Adamson’s attackers with their towering blocks and almost accurate receptions.
These things, combined with their dreaded plays caught the San Marcelino-based volleybelles off guard as they were searching for answers after they fell behind by as many as 13 in the second set.
Angela Benting was the lone bright spot for the Lady Falcons as she scored a limited 10 points over the block-happy Lady Spikers.
The FEU Tamaraws stormed past last year’s Final Four contender UP Maroons in four sets, 25-17, 23-25, 25-18 and 25-20 while the DLSU Lady Spikers demolished the Adamson Lady Falcons in straight sets, 25-14, 25-13, and 25-15.
The Morayta-based spikers were as potent as ever as they rallied behind great offensive games of their fearless foursome – Rodolfo Labrador Jr., Nestor Molate, Pitrus Paolo de Ocampo and Karl Ian dela Calzada – who all scored in double-figures to help the Tamaraws in staving off the Fighting Maroons in an early matchup of last year’s final four combatants.
Labrador seemed to be possessed as he had 22 points on 16 attacks, 3 blocks and three service aces while his teammates provided the ample support that the George Pascua-coached team really needed in this match.
Molate, De Ocampo and de la Calzada scored 17, 15 and 10 points respectively for the Tamaraws.
Lloyd Arden Belgado (11 points) and Michael Jordan Arda (10 points) led the Fighting Maroons in their attack.
In other games, Adamson did not went home empty handed as their men’s team won in straight sets over the UE Warriors, 25-18, 25-23 and 25-21.
Ron Jay Galang led the Soaring Falcons with 13 points as he and his fellow Falcons, who had four others scoring at least nine points, teamed up to dismantle their Recto-based rivals to take their first win of the season.
Benchard Pedrano scored 14 points to lead the Red Warriors.
In the other women’s match, the UP Lady Maroons welcomed their new coach Vip Isada with a commanding win over the UE Lady Warriors in four sets, 25-16, 25-27, 25-23 and 25-23.
UP’s Angeli Araneta and Carmela Lopez smashed the Lady Warriors defense combining for 39 points to compensate on their error-prone game that prevented the team from winning the second set.
The Lady Maroons committed 42 unforced errors that became points for the Lady Warriors, who were led by Cris Rosale’s 17 points.
Action continues Wednesday, December 1 at the Flying V Arena starting off with the men’s battle of NU and ADMU at 9:00 am followed by the matchup of UE and FEU at 11:00 am.
The ladies take centerstage in the afternoon as NU meets ADMU at 2:00 pm while the main event features opening weekend winners DLSU and UP at 4:00 pm.
