CAPPING OFF two rounds of eliminations, the Ateneo Lady Eagles took down the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors in straight sets, 25-20, 27-25, 25-11, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Women’s Volleyball Tournament on Sunday, April 28, at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City. With the victory, the Blue and White secured the top seed heading into the Final Four with a 12-2 win-loss record.

Lady Eagle Head Coach Oliver Almadro deployed the starting crew of Deanna Wong, Kat Tolentino, Maddie Madayag, Bea De Leon, Ponggay Gaston, Jules Samonte, and Kim Gequillana at libero. Later in the match, the veterans shared the spotlight with every single reserve as Vanie Gandler, Dani Ravena, Jaja Maraguinot, Erika Rivera, Ayumi Furukawa, Jeycel Delos Reyes, and Candice Gequillana all came on the floor.

Ten Lady Eagles made the scoring column which was topped by Tolentino who tallied 11 points off eight attacks, two blocks, and an ace as well as 10 excellent digs. Also scoring in double digits was Madayag who earned 10 points comprised of six spikes, three blocks, and an ace.

To start the match, the Lady Warriors mounted an early 5-1 run behind veteran ace Judith Abil. The Red and White continued their offensive onslaught up until the first technical timeout (TTO), 4-8. After back-to-back off the block kills from Samonte and excellent net defense from De Leon, Ateneo finally bore the advantage, 10-9. A vicious exchange ensued between both teams even past the second TTO, 16-15, but the set was eventually won by the Blue and White after an attack error from Abil sealed a devastating 7-1 run, 25-20.

The second set began with another UE advantage as their offensive plays continued to connect, 5-8. A few turns after the first TTO, Ravena came in for K. Gequillana and later Maraguinot and Raagas for Tolentino and Wong, which proved effective as the Lady Eagles quickly uncorked a 5-1 run to take the lead after a quick kill from Madayag, 16-15. As the match came to another deadlock, 18-18, Tolentino and Wong returned to the floor, but Abil made three crucial spikes to bring UE to just one point away fromlevelling the match, 21-24. Against all odds, the Blue and White came up with a staggering 6-1 run to steal the set after a clutch ace from Madayag, 27-25.

In a surprising change, Almadro decided to start Maraguinot instead of Wong for the third set which worked well for the Blue and White who kept the momentum on the side in the third set.  A monsterous 11-1 run following three sharp attacks from Gaston brought Ateneo ahead by double-digits in the second TTO, 16-5. Furukawa, Delos Reyes, and C. Gequillana came in for Gaston, Madayag, and Samonte to finish off the set. A 4-0 run from UE came too little too late as an off the block kill from C. Gequillana sealed the match for the Lady Eagles, 25-11.

Nearing the end of the season, Coach Almadro acknowledged and respected all the teams for the growth they brought Ateneo. “Iyan ang sinabi ko sa kanila, [that] they (UE) are equally as good as FEU, NU, Adamson, [and] they all deserve the Final Four and they keep pushing us forward.”

(That’s what I told them, [that] they are equally as good as FE NU, Adamson, [and] they all deserve the Final Four and they keep pushing us forward.)

Boasting a twice-to-beat advantage, the Lady Eagles will face the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws in Game 1 of their semi-final series on Saturday, May 4 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Set Score:

Ateneo-UE 25-20, 27-25, 25-11

Photo by Zoey Ignacio