LA SALLE played just hard enough to subdue University of the Philippines, 25-17, 25-12, 25-13, and snatch the early lead Wednesday in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Jacq Alarca fired 13 hits while sophomore Abigail Maraño had 10 points, including two blocks, to help the Lady Archers book their second straight win.
Michelle Gumabao accounted five of La Salle’s 12 blocks.
In the first game, Ateneo banked on another stellar showing by rookie Ella de Jesus to barge into the win column with a 25-17, 25-16, 22-25, 26-24 decision of National University.
De Jesus sizzled anew for the Lady Eagles, as the 5-foot-1 former St. James standout uncorked a game-high 18 markers.
Ateneo bounced back from a 13-25, 25-18, 25-19, 24-26, 13-15 opening day loss to defending champion University of Santo Tomas last Saturday.
The Lady Eagles, Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Maroons are now tied in third with identical 1-1 records.
“Wala naman akong nakikitang problema sa team. Yung pagkatalo namin sa opening could gone either way and I’m satisfied naman,” said Ateneo mentor Roger Gorayeb.
Bea Pascual added nine points, Gretchen Ho and Kara Acevedo had eight hits apiece, and Dzi Gervacio chipped in six markers for Ateneo.
Mervic Mangui registred 16 points while Lucille Bayron added 12 hits for NU.
The Lady Eagles scored the game’s first 13 points before the Lady Bulldogs got into the groove of things.
NU was able to save a match point in the fourth frame, 24-24, with a Bayron hit before Ateneo sealed the win with a kill by Fille Cainglet and a drop shot by Ho.
Carmela Lopez had seven hits, while Angeli Araneta added six, a far cry from her 21-point showing in UP’s 25-16, 25-27, 25-23, 25-23 win over University of the East last Sunday.
In the men’s division, Karl Dela Calzada had 13 hits as Far Eastern University improved to 2-0 with a 25-18, 25-18, 25-18 win over UE.
Danilo Ramosa unloaded 18 points as NU bounced back from a two-set deficit to edge Ateneo, 16-25, 22-25, 25-16, 25-22, 15-13, for a 1-1 record. (TJ)
UAAP NOTES: Barker Rolly Manlapaz changed De Jesus’ monicker to ‘The Ella-vator’…Kiwi Amy Ahomiro played for the first time for the Lady Eagles, scoring three points, all in the second set…Rookie Bea Tan was also fielded in for Ateneo in the opening set…There were three technical timeouts in the fourth set. The culprit, an rotational fault committed by the Lady Bulldogs three plays back. From a 9-3 lead, NU left an 7-6 advantage…La Salle rookie Cyd Demecillo put in for the first time, scoring four points…The Lady Archers now has a total of 18 blocks after two matches.
