THE ATENEO Lady Eagles remain unbeaten in the second round of eliminations in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Volleyball tournament, defeating the Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons, 24-26, 25-19, 21-25, 26-24, 15-12 on Sunday, March 25, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao City.
On offense, Jho Maraguinot led the scoring for the Blue and White with a 23-point performance, while Deanna Wong exhibited her best performance of the season, contributing 63 of the team’s 65 excellent sets.
The first set saw both sides locked in a tightly contested affair, as the Lady Eagles entered the first technical timeout (TTO) trailing by one (8-7). Exiting the timeout, both teams struggled to place their spikes, committing a series errors on either side. A cleverly placed drop from Fen Emnas put Adamson up by two (16-14) by the second TTO, and an attack from Galanza down the line then gave them the opening set at (26-24).
In the second set, a crosscourt from Kat Tolentino sent the Lady Eagles into the first TTO with a five-point lead (8-3). The Lady Falcons sparked a 6-0 scoring run, prompting the Blue and White to call a timeout, but Ateneo managed to retaliate to make it a (16-11) game. Eventually, a Maraguinot attack off the block would claimed the set at (25-19) to tie the match.
The third set proved to be different from the previous, as Adamson dominated the Lady Eagles to earn a six-point advantage at the second TTO. A late comeback attempt from Ateneo comeback proved to be futile, as Adamson went on to take the set, (25-21).
Trailing two sets to none, the Lady Eagles as they found themselves in dangerous territory, entering the first TTO down by a six-point deficit (8-2), and going down (22-16) later in the set. However, in what was described by Team Captain Maddie Madayag as the “heartstrong mantra on display”, the Lady Eagles put up an 11-2 scoring run to change the tide and claim the set at (26-24).
In the fifth and final set, the Lady Eagles looked to wrap up the competition quickly, racing into the break with a six-point lead (8-2). However, an Adamson scoring run soon prompted the Lady Eagles to call a timeout at the 10-point mark, as both teams drew level. Eventually, the Lady Eagles would claim the set and match, with a block from Kat Tolentino sealing the deal at (15-12).
After the match, Wong took the opportunity to speak her thoughts on her best performance of the season. “Actually I really didn’t notice [my numbers],” she admitted. “Sa head ko lang was how I can chase the ball, how I can set the ball. It’s a good thing but it’s better talaga to win.”
The Lady Eagles will go up against the University of Sto. Tomas (UST), on Wednesday, April 4 at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Set Scores
Ateneo-AdU: 24-26, 25-19, 21-25, 26-24, 15-12
Box Score
Ateneo: Maraguinot – 23, Tolentino – 17, Samonte – 12, de Leon– 11, Madayag– 6, Wong – 6
AdU: Galanza- 23, Paat- 17, Soyud- 11, Dacoron- 10, Emnas- 8, Perez- 3, Flora-
