DEFENDING champion De La Salle remained perfect, but not without overcoming a tough Far Eastern University stand, 25-22, 25-17, 24-26, 23-25, 15-7, in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament Wednesday night at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
The Lady Spikers doesn’t mind going through the tough grind.
“It’s a good thing. Kasi at least nakikita mo kung anong dapat ayusin sa team at ma-test ‘yung character,” said coach Ramil de Jesus, as De La Salle will face National University in a duel of unbeaten squads on Sunday.
The Lady Spikers were at match point in the third set before the Lady Tamaraws got their bearings to extend the game and eventually force a decider.
The game was hanging in the balance in the fifth set when De La Salle broke away from a 5-5 standoff, as FEU gave away four points from errors and Desiree Cheng closed out the game with a kill from a superb Michelle Cobb toss.
Letting it rain in the service zone, Adamson University exceeded its one-win output last year and moved up in third place, with a 25-9, 27-25, 25-20 win over University of the Philippines in the curtain raiser.
Kim Kianna Dy had 18 points, including two blocks, reigning MVP Majoy Baron added 16 points, while Aduke Ogunsanya added 11 points, including four blocks, for the Lady Spikers.
Bernadeth Pons had 21 hits and 22 digs, while Ced Domingo had five blocks to finish with 12 points for the Lady Tamaraws, who played their third consecutive five-setter match.
It was Adamson University’s first winning streak since collecting back-to-back victories to end its Season 78 first round assignments late in Feb. 2016.
The seniors delivered anew for the Lady Falcons, as opposite spiker Mylene Paat unloaded eight of her 15 points from service aces, Jema Galanza had 14 points and nine excellent receptions, while setter Fen Emnas tossed in 34 excellent sets and scored half of her eight points from the service zone.
“I love these girls,” said Adamson University mentor Air Padda.
The struggles go on for UP, which fell in a tie with FEU, Ateneo and University of Santo Tomas at 1-2, as it stayed in the dugout for almost two hours to ponder what went wrong.
Tots Carlos was the lone bright spot for the Lady Maroons with 12 hits, 10 digs and six excellent receptions.
In men’s play, JP Bugaoan had three blocks and two service aces to finish with 19 points as FEU overcame De La Salle, 25-22, 15-25, 30-28, 25-22, to stretch its perfect run to three games.
Adamson University, behind Pao Pablico’s 23-point outing, turned back UP, 22-25, 26-24, 25-16, 25-19, to barge into the win column.
Games Saturday
(Filoil Flying V Centre)
8 a.m. – Ateneo vs UE (Men)
10 a.m. – FEU vs UP (Men)
2 p.m. – Ateneo vs UE (Women)
4 p.m. – FEU vs UP (Women)