La Salle, Ateneo clashes anew for UAAP women’s volleyball finals

DE LA SALLE University and Ateneo de Manila University needed only over an hour on Saturday to dispose their respective Final Four opponents in the 75th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament and arrange a championship rematch.

Before a packed Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, the Lady Archers lorded over first-time semifinalist National University, 25-18, 25-23, 25-18 while the Lady Eagles outlasted Adamson University, 25-23, 25-23, 26-24.

The best-of-three finale is set on March 2 also at the Big Dome, where La Salle is gunning to defeat Ateneo again for its third consecutive crown. In the men’s side, NU will be taking on Far Eastern University on the same day.

Saturday’s victory was special for the Taft-based school as it racked up more points to cement its hold of the general championship trophy, a first since joining the prestigious league in 1986. It also ended the 14-year-reign of the University of Santo Tomas.

“Sa first set, ang taas yung adrenalin ng both sides, so nakuha lang namin sa service at sa mga mistakes doon sa receiving. Hanggang sa nagkaroon ng kumpiyansa ang team,” said La Salle mentor Ramil de Jesus.

The Lady Archers trailed as many as four points in the second set, 16-20, but the team made up for it in the third, taking a 19-10 lead because of the successive attacking faults of the Lady Bulldogs.

“Ang sabi ko yun lang floor defense medyo naging matamlay sa second set. Dapat walang sinasayang na bola at yung mga unforced error, hindi dapat nangyari dahil mahirap kumuha ng puntos laban sa NU,” said de Jesus.

Ateneo, on the other hand, registered a late rally in the third frame to deny Adamson the chance to extend the game.

Ara Galang scored 15 hits while Mika Reyes had 14 points while Dindin Santiago led NU with 19 points including three blocks. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)