THE ATENEO-MOTOLITE Lady Eagles won in five sets over the Tacloban (TAC) Fighting Warays, 25-18, 19-25, 11-25, 25-17, 15-11 in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Open Conference on Wednesday, October 17 at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Lady Eagles Head Coach Oliver Almadro fielded a starting lineup featuring Bea De Leon, Maddie Madayag, Kat Tolentino, Vanie Gandler, Ponggay Gaston, Deanna Wong, and Dani Ravena at libero. Kim Gequillana subbed in during the second and third sets to improve the floor defence while Jaja Maraguinot was given some playing time as well. Jules Samonte replaced Gandler at the latter parts of the match. Bela Peralta was once again called on to lead the team on defense.
Middles Madayag and De Leon combined for 27 points with the former recording five blocks. Wong worked hard on defense, posting 16/20 excellent digs. Peralta put her name on the stat sheet once again, notching 16 excellent digs and five excellent receives.
The first set was a tight battle with a wide attack by Tacloban surrendering the lead at the first technical timeout (TTO), 8-7. A short run by the Fighting Warays put them ahead by three at the second TTO, 13-16. The Lady Eagles quickly made a comeback and forced Tacloban to call time with a block from Wong, 21-18. Ateneo-Motolite went on to score four more to take the set with a quick from Madayag. The set ended 25-18 in favor of the Katipunan-based squad.
[1st set] Madayag takes set point with a quick!
Ateneo 25 TAC 18#PVL pic.twitter.com/n6P2xXpEU5
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) October 17, 2018
The second set revealed Ateneo’s weakness on first balls, as Tacloban’s good serves prevented the Blue and White from gaining any momentum. An attack error on the last rally tied the set score, 19-25.
[2nd set] An attack error gives Tacloban set point.
Ateneo 19 TAC 25#PVL pic.twitter.com/wGqlitvlb8
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) October 17, 2018
The Ateneo coaching staff tinkered with the line-up in hopes of fixing the defense but the Fighting Warays kept the pressure on. Errors from the Lady Eagles and their failure to adjust on the receive doomed the Lady Eagles once more as they lost the third set by a worrying margin, 11-25.
[3rd set] Guino-o takes set point with a cross court kill.
Ateneo 11 TAC 25#PVL pic.twitter.com/sXCH5QB84y
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) October 17, 2018
The fourth set looked to be a repeat of the previous two frames as the Lady Eagles continued to concede aces. An off-speed kill by Heather Guino-o had the Lady Eagles down by three at the first TTO, 5-8. The Katipunan-based squad came back with a 12-3 scoring run to put them in pole position to take the set, 17-11. With the momentum on their side, the Lady Eagles forced a fifth set off an attack error, 25-17.
[4th set] Pacres attack error! We’re going to a fifth set!
Ateneo 25 TAC 17#PVL pic.twitter.com/2ZUCi2mZu4
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) October 17, 2018
Ateneo-Motolite looked unstoppable in the fifth set as they never let go of the lead. Tacloban looked close to tying it but a down-the-line kill off the running play by Madayag kept Ateneo ahead, 10-8. A point by Joivielyn Prado on the regalo prompted the Lady Eagles to call time. Back-to-back blocks by Tolentino finished the match, 15-11.
“Step up, dominate,” were the words Head Coach Almadro said to Madayag, Wong, and De Leon. The mentor touted their performance as one of the main positives of this game.
For their next game, the Lady Eagles will be severely undermanned as Tolentino, Madayag, and Gaston will be absent due to a required seniors’ immersion. Erika Raagas will be slotted in at utility while Gequillana will return as the open hitter. Samonte will play a key role in the middle blocker position. These line-up decisions may be subject to change prior to the match.
This next game for the Ateneo-Motolite Lady Eagles will be against the Creamline Cool Smashers at 6:00 PM, on Sunday, October 21 in the Baliwag Star Arena in Bulacan.
Set Score
Ateneo-TAC: 25-18, 19-25, 11-25, 25-17, 15-11
Box Scores
Ateneo: Tolentino – 16, De Leon – 15, Madayag – 12, Gaston – 6, Samonte – 5, Gandler – 4, Wong – 3, Gequillana – 3
TAC: Pacres – 18, Guino-o – 15, Esguerra – 14, Prado – 10, Negrito – 5, Delos Reyes – 4, Alvarez – 3
