AFTER A dominant performance in the fifth set, the Ateneo Lady Eagles took a comeback win over the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Lady Tigresses in five sets, 25-22, 20-25, 16-25 25-17, 15-9, on Wednesday, April 4 at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
This win assures the Lady Eagles a Final Four spot and a win-loss record of 9-3 in Season 80 of the the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Volleyball tournament.
Kat Tolentino was the leading scorer with 21 points (17 spikes, two blocks, two aces) while Jho Maraguinot contributed 19 points (17 spikes, one block, one ace). Ponggay Gaston racked up 26 excellent receives to help the Lady Eagles garner a 34% efficiency rate. The team as a whole notched 12 kill blocks with four from captain Maddie Madayag.
Ateneo Head Coach Anusorn “Tai” Bundit started Madayag, Bea De Leon, Deanna Wong, Jules Samonte, Maraguinot, and Tolentino, while Gaston and Ria Lo shared the role of libero.
The first set began as a back and forth affair, but the Lady Eagles were able to pull away with a 10-3 run, 18-15. Despite UST trying to recover, an attack error from Sisi Rondina forced them to conceded the set, 25-22.
[1st Set] Ateneo claims the first set!
Ateneo 25 UST 22#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/OIHTKEWksM
— Jason R. Santos (@Jason_TheGUIDON) April 4, 2018
The Lady Tigresses led early in the second set, 6-9, thanks to an early 5-1 scoring run. UST’s attacking and serving proved too much for the Blue and White throughout the set. The Lady Eagles eventually conceded match point with a block on Tolentino, 20-25.
[2nd Set] UST claims the second set.
Ateneo 20 UST 25#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/gnkGks3Jhm
— Jason R. Santos (@Jason_TheGUIDON) April 4, 2018
Errors were a major factor for the Katipunan-based squad in the third set as they gave up a total of nine points as compared to UST’s four. An 11-3 run put the Lady Tigresses up by eight, 11-19. A block by Carla Sandoval on Samonte ended the third set, 16-25.
[3rd Set] UST claims the third set. Lady Eagles now trail two sets to one.
Ateneo 16 UST 25#UAAPVolleyball
— Jason R. Santos (@Jason_TheGUIDON) April 4, 2018
The Lady Eagles fought back in the fourth set and were helped by UST’s 10 errors. A 5-0 run in the latter part of the set put Ateneo just four points away from forcing a fifth set, 21-15. A strong kill by Tolentino ended the fourth set, 25-17, to tie the contest at two sets apiece.
[4th Set] Tolentino claims the fourth set for Ateneo!
Ateneo 25 UST 17#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/z1bCv0nArl
— Jason R. Santos (@Jason_TheGUIDON) April 4, 2018
The fifth set saw the Lady Eagles carry over their momentum from the last set. A 5-1 run put the Blue and White ahead by eight, 12-4. The Lady Tigresses then scored five consecutive points to force a timeout from Ateneo, 12-9. However, back to back kills from the Blue and White and an ace from Tolentino wrapped up the set and the game, 15-9.
[5th Set] AND THAT’S IT! Tolentino’s ace claims the set and match for the Lady Eagles!
Ateneo 15 UST 9#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/BYvi7x3y5T
— Jason R. Santos (@Jason_TheGUIDON) April 4, 2018
“We’re really happy that our hard work paid off,” said captain Maddie Madayag on her team making the Final Four. Tolentino also commented, “We just trusted [in] our training and our teammates.”
The next game for the Lady Eagles will be against the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons on Saturday, April 7, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Set Scores
Ateneo-UST: 25-18, 14-25, 25-18, 15-25, and 15-10
Box Scores
Ateneo: Tolentino– 21, Maraguinot – 19, Madayag – 11, Samonte – 7, de Leon – 7, Wong – 4,
UST: Rondina – 21, Alessandrini – 10, Francisco – 10, Sandoval – 9, Bicar – 6, Viray – 5, Palec –5, Pacres – 1
