Martin San Diego | FCF
It will be an Ateneo-La Salle part three in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball finals as the Lady Eagles from Katipunan today trounced the twice-to-beat National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs, 25-22, 8-25, 25-19, 25-22, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Diminutive spiker Ella de Jesus opened the game with daring spikes against the Lady Bulldogs’ imposing wall while Alyssa Valdez closed the game with powerful spikes and defensive gems to pace the gritty Lady Eagles, who have won their seventh-straight game—the most in franchise history.
Carrying their coach Tai Bundit rallying call of “Heart, Strong,” the Lady Eagles recovered from an early 1-5 deficit through the high-flying exploits of the 5’2” de Jesus, who scored on three successive spikes and a single-woman block against the 6’2” Dindin Santiago to lead Ateneo’s recovery.
Rookie spiker Michelle Morente then created a 22-20 separation for the Ateneo, with down-the line spikes as the Lady Eagles went on to win the set.
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It was all NU in the second set, as the Lady Bulldogs stepped up in defending the net, successfully blocking nine spikes from the Lady Eagles. The Bulldogs’ net defense opened opportunities for Santiago to score on running spikes with impunity.
Unfazed, the Lady Eagles still played the same fearless offense despite height disadvantage while adjusting their floor defense. De Jesus still went on scoring and Valdez re-emerged to score successive points midway in the set while libero Denden Lazaro secured the floor for Ateneo.
Both squads then fought toe-to-toe in the fourth set in what appeared to be a psychological game as de Jesus still pestered the Lady Bulldogs with spikes in front of their defense while Valdez connected on backline hits.
Valdez then changed her game at the twilight of the set, playing the role of defender while teaming up with middle hitter Aerial Patnongon in blocking Santiago’s seemingly predictable running hits. Sensing vitory, Valdez then hit the game winner to finish the stepladder stage for good.
“It was a hard competition but everybody has heart. It’s about thinking while flying high. It’s about meditation, to focus on the game but being happy while focusing,” said Bundit.
“In every training session, we’ve accomplished a lot. Even if our bodies ache, us getting frustrated in the intense training, coach Tai still eggs us up to be ‘Heart, Strong,’” said Valdez, who topscored with 22 points off 16 spikes, five blocks, and a service ace.
De Jesus added 12 points while Lazaro had 16 excellent digs.
The Lady Bulldogs, missing the finals bus for a second year in a row, were led by Santiago with 19 points and her sister Jaja Santiago with 14 points off six spikes, four blocks, and four service aces.
The Lady Eagles will next face the thrice-to-beat De La Salle Lady Spikers in the finals on Wednesday as Ateneo will face their archrivals for the first time with coach Bundit on the sidelines.
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