AFTER FIVE thrilling sets, the Ateneo-Motolite Lady Eagles overcame the BanKo Perlas Spikers (BKP), 21-25, 23-25, 25-17, 27-25, 21-19, in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Open Conference Semifinals on Saturday, December 1, at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan City.

Lady Eagles Head Coach Oliver Almadro fielded the same starting lineup as he did in game two, with Bea De Leon, Maddie Madayag, Ponggay Gaston, Vanie Gandler, Kat Tolentino, Deanna Wong, and Kim Gequillana at libero. Dani Ravena and Gequillana were swapping back and forth for the libero position, with the former playing the entirety of the fifth set. Jules Samonte was featured over Gandler for most of the match while rookie setter Jaja Maraguinot was given playing time in the third to fifth sets.

Tolentino was an effective attacker all game long as she notched 20 points on top of three blocks. Madayag was also a crucial factor at the net as she earned seven kill blocks as well as 25 rebounds. Wong, too, was everywhere this game as she notched 16 excellent digs, 39 excellent sets, and seven points. Gaston was the hero of the game; not only did she score match point, but she also scored on 14 of 61 spikes for a total of 15 points.

The Perlas Spikers came out of the gates on fire, consistently hitting difficult shots despite Ateneo’s efforts to target their setter, Jem Ferrer. This allowed BanKo to go on a 5-0 run heading into the first technical timeout (TTO) of the contest, 3-8. The two teams then proceeded to trade runs, but the Perlas Spikers remained on top at the second TTO thanks to an off the block kill by Nicole Tiamzon, 13-16.

A 4-0 run capped off by a service ace from Gandler to the left corner tied the score at 17-17 and forced the Perlas Spikers to call time. However, the Perlas Spikers were able to pull away, setting themselves up for set point with back-to-back blocks, 21-24. A kill off the block by BanKo Team Captain Suzanne Roces ended the first set, 21-25.

The second set started off close, but consecutive errors by the Perlas Spikers and a kill off the block by Gaston put the Lady Eagles up by three at the set’s first TTO, 8-5. A 3-8 run by the Perlas Spikers brought them back into the game, 11-13, forcing the Lady Eagles to call a timeout.

Almadro’s words worked wonders as the Katipunan-based squad went on a 5-1 run to take a small lead at the second TTO, 16-14. A 3-0 Ateneo run headlined by consecutive kills from Tolentino was overshadowed by a 4-0 run from the Perlas Spikers that prompted the Lady Eagles to call their last timeout after giving up the lead, 20-21. Both teams continued to trade points until Tiamzon ultimately took set point with a down-the-line kill, 23-25.

The Lady Eagles’ 4-1 run put the Lady Eagles up by one, 8-7, heading into the first TTO of the third set. Madayag’s short serve to the open spot capped off a 3-0 run to extend the lead, 11-8. This sparked another 5-2 scoring run headlined by three kills from De Leon and two by Samonte put Ateneo in a comfortable position in the third set, 11-16.

In the latter stages of this set, Maraguinot’s ace and Tolentino’s spike off the block widened the lead to seven, 19-12. Tolentino then converted several key spikes to put Ateneo on course to extend the match. Lady Eagles veteran De Leon forced a fourth set by taking set point with a block on Kathy Bersola’s quick attempt, 25-17.

While the Perlas Spikers led early in the fourth set, the Lady Eagles cut the deficit down to one with a 3-0 scoring run, 6-7. Later on, a 3-0 run by the Perlas Spikers led to the Lady Eagles’ first timeout, 9-12. The Blue and White were close to taking the lead, but a 5-1 blitz by BanKo, capped off by three consecutive kills from Majoy Dacoron, increased the deficit to five, 12-17. The Katipunan-based squad answered back with a 3-0 run of their own to force the Perlas Spikers to call a timeout, 15-17.

This stoppage in play was not enough to halt the Lady Eagles’ momentum, as they went on to win three straight rallies to take the lead at 18-17. The Perlas Spikers tied the score with an off-speed attack, but a 4-1 run from the Katipunan-based squad forced another timeout, 22-19.

A 5-1 run by Perlas seemed to have shut the door on Ateneo’s Finals chances but the Lady Eagles saved two match points until a service error from Bersola brought the scores level, 25-25. An ace by Madayag aimed at libero and former Lady Eagle Gizelle Tan put Ateneo at set point before a wide attack by Tiamzon brought an end to the fourth set, 27-25.

It was a perfect start for Ateneo in the fifth set as a 4-0 run forced the Perlas Spikers to burn an early timeout with the score at 5-2. A 3-0 run widened the deficit even further after a block by Wong on Tiamzon, 8-3. The two teams continued to trade points and a kill by Gaston to zone three extended the lead to five, 11-6.

However, an unprecedented 8-0 scoring run by the Perlas Spikers seemed to have cemented their place in the finals, 11-14. Refusing to back down, the Lady Eagles showed off their “heart strong” mentality and superior conditioning to tie the score with a block by Madayag on Gervacio, 14-14.

Neither team blinked, with the advantage jumping from one team to another, although some Perlas Spikers seemed to have been bothered by bouts of cramps. After exchanging match points, a 4-1 Ateneo run finally ended the nail-biting match as Gaston claimed the last point with a spike down the line, 21-19.

The Lady Eagles’ experience with consecutive game days and a handful of five setters proved important in this do-or-die affair as they were able to physically outlast the Perlas Spikers.

“Great sacrifice will have a great outcome,” commented Almadro on his team’s conditioning.

This victory secures the Lady Eagles a seat in the PVL Finals against the Creamline Cool Smashers, with game 1 scheduled for Wednesday, December 5 at 6:00 PM in the same venue and game 2 scheduled on December 8 at 6:00 PM at the Batangas City Coliseum.

Set Score

Ateneo-BKP: 21-25, 23-25, 25-17, 27-25, 21-19

Box Scores

Ateneo: Tolentino – 20, Gaston – 15, Madayag – 14, De Leon – 13, Samonte – 12, Wong – 7, Gandler – 3, Maraguinot – 2

BKP: Tiamzon – 28, Gervacio – 18, Roces – 17, Bersola – 16, Dacoron – 11, Doromal – 2, Devanadera –1