La Salle pounced on National University’s lackadaisical performance to hammer out a 25-12, 25-14, 25-17 win and move closer in clinching the semifinals bonus in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament Saturday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The vaunted great wall of the Lady Spikers – Michelle Gumabao, Abigail Maraño and Jacq Alarca – scored 10 hits apiece, while libero Melissa Gohing had 14 digs to help the Taft-based squad improve to 10-1 card.
“Kailangan pa ng konting pukpok pa sa training. Hopefully, magiging maayos ang kondisyon ng mga bata sa huling tatlong laro namin sa eliminations,” said La Salle mentor Ramil de Jesus.
The Lady Spikers are a victory shy in bagging the first ‘twice-to-beat’ slot in the ‘Final Four’. After a week-long break, La Salle will next face Ateneo on Feb. 6, which is the start of its brutal three-game stretch to end the eliminations.
“Malakas ang floor defense nila (Lady Eagles) at magaling ang kanilang setter (Jem Ferrer). We have to be very prepared at maging focus ang paglalaro ng mga bata,” said de Jesus.
The Lady Bulldogs fell to 4-7 and in danger of missing the semis bus. NU is now trailing two and a half games behind Ateneo and Adamson (6-4) in the hunt for the last ‘Final Four’ berth. Mervic Mangui and Lucille Bayron finished with nine hits apiece for the Lady Bulldogs.
La Salle needs two wins in the last three games to finish No. 1 after the elims.