POPULAR »
Fri 29 March 2024

La Salle ousts NU as UP enters Final Four, UE wins first game in four years

[supsystic-social-sharing id="1"]

The De La Salle Lady Spikers bounced back from a deflating loss against archrival Ateneo last Sunday, ending the elimination round of UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball with a win over National University (UP) Lady Bulldogs, 25-14, 21-25, 25-19, 25-15, Wednesday at the San Juan Arena.

The win by last year’s runners-up ushered the entry of the 8-6 University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons to the Final Four, as the NU dropped to 7-7.

Anchored on Kim Dy’s excellent attacking game, the Lady Spikers made mincemeat of NU’s weak floor defense and precarious setting.

Dy topscored for the Lady Spikers with a career-high 25 points and her frontline partner Majoy Baron added 13 points.

The Lady Bulldogs started out flat in the first set, trailing 0-7 in the wee minutes of the game.

They then opted to field in the graduating Ivy Perez as setter in the second set, together with Roselyn Doria and Jasmin Nabor. Led by Aiko Urdas, the Lady Bulldogs tied the game in the second set.

It was all La Salle in the next two sets, targeting Urdas with their power spikes and shutting down Jaja Santiago’s attacks on the net. Santiago nonetheless led the Lady Bulldogs with 14 points.

It was a bitter ending for the Lady Bulldogs, who are going to miss the Final Four for the first time after three seasons.

The loss also marks the end of the stellar college career of team captain Myla Pablo, who sat out in sets two and three, as well as Perez and fellow setter Jocelyn Soliven.

As for the twice-to-beat Lady Spikers, they will meet the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in the Final Four on Sunday.

UP, who are entering the Final Four for the first time in thirteen years, will meet number one team Ateneo Lady Eagles on Saturday.

UE ends 4-year drought

In the first game, the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors finally won their first game after 58 straight losses, defeating the lackluster Adamson Lady Falcons, 25-17, 25-22, 29-27.

“I thank my players, my daughters, for the win. This is just the start of a big improvement,” said multi-titled coach Francis Vicente, who has coached the Lady Warriors on his second season with them.

The young team were led by Shaya Adorador with 14 points and middle hitter Roselle Baliton with thirteen points, including two crucial quick hits in the third set which brought UE the win.

The Lady Falcons remained listless under interim coach Domeng Custodio, were led by Jema Galanza with 13 points.



[supsystic-social-sharing id="2"]