THE ATENEO Lady Eagles showed incredible heart and resiliency in today’s match as they edged out their bitter archrivals, the De La Salle University Lady Spikers, in 4 sets, 12-25, 25-20, 25-21, and 25-19 on Saturday, April 8 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
This win over the Lady Spikers sees the Blue and White finish the elimination round of Season 79 of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Volleyball tournament at first place with a 12-2 win-loss record.
With veteran Jhoana Maraguinot out of action for today’s match due to rest, Head Coach Tai Bundit deployed a starting six that saw Ponggay Gaston starting on the floor fly the Blue and White.
The first set saw the Lady Eagles on the receiving end of spikes courtesy of Kim Dy, Joy Baron, and Desiree Cheng as the Blue and White found themselves trailing the Lady Spikers by seven at the second technical timeout (9-16). The Lady Eagles displayed a low-scoring performance, as DLSU capitalized on Ateneo’s errors and took the first set at 25-12.
The second set then saw a much tighter contest between both teams as Ateneo entered the first technical timeout leading by only a point (8-7). The back-and-forth affair would then continue up until the second technical timeout, as Kim Dy went down-the-line to send DLSU into the second technical timeout leading by one (16-15). However, unforced errors would prove to be fatal for the Lady Spikers as a net touch would eventually see them concede the set at 20-25.
Rookie Jules Samonte then came up big for the Lady Eagles in the third set as she scored point after point to see the Lady Eagles on par with the much more aggressive Lady Spikers. However, a block from Aduke Ogunsanya allowed theLady Archers break the deadlock to enter the second technical timeout leading by two (16-14). However, Samonte would once again step up to the plate for the Lady Eagles as back-to-back attacks from the rookie eventually ignited a scoring run from the Blue and White. Errors would once again prove to be costly for the Lady Spikers as a overhit spike saw them concede the third set at 21-25.
Unlike the sets that preceded it, the fourth set would prove to be different as the Lady Spikers entered the first technical timeout leading by three (8-5). However, veterans Michelle Morente and Bea de Leon would soon relieve Samonte off the scoring pressure as the tandem sent the Lady Eagles into the second technical leading by three (16-13). Eventually, a spike from Michelle Morente would claim the match and first seed position for the Lady Eagles at 25-19.
Today’s match saw Bea de Leon and Michelle Morente lead the scoring for the Lady Eagles with 14 points each. Rookie Jules Samonte exhibited her best scoring numbers of the season to finish as the Lady Eagles’ second top scorer of the matchwith 10 points. Deanna Wong, who has been seeing improved minutes lately for the Lady Eagles, defended the backrow well with 12 excellent digs, while Michelle Morente delivered brilliantly by making 17 out of the 31 excellent receptions of the team.
After the match, Assistant Coach Sherwin Meneses praised rookie Jules Samonte for her efforts in today’s match. “Di kami surprised kasi sobrang masipag talaga siya. Minsan nga siya yung pinaka sipag sa training. (We’re not surprised because she’s really hardworking. Sometimes, she’s even the hardest worker in training),” said Coach Meneses.
The Lady Eagles will prepare for the final four by returning to training on the morning of Easter Sunday.
Box Scores:
Ateneo: Morente- 14, de Leon- 14, Samonte- 10, Tolentino- 5, Madayag- 3, Morado- 2, Gopico- 2, Gaston- 1
DLSU: Dy- 15, Cheng- 13, Baron- 11, Tiamzon- 10, Fajardo- 7, Ogunsanya- 4, Layug- 1
The Ateneo Lady Eagles showed incredible heart and resiliency in today’s match as they edged out their bitter archrivals, the De La Salle University Lady Spikers, in 4 sets, 12-25, 25-20, 25-21, and 25-19
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