La Salle put an end to Ateneo’s seven-game winning run and a streak of 21 consecutive sets won to grab the first twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four.
Using their height advantage to the hilt, the Lady Spikers pummeled the Lady Eagles, 25-18, 25-11, 25-12, Sunday in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Veterans Stephanie Mercado and Jacq Alarca had 11 points apiece while Abigail Maraño chipped in 10 hits for La Salle, which improved their record to 11-1. The Lady Spikers registered eight blocks, with five coming from Alarca, against two by the Lady Eagles.
“Fast play ang Ateneo kaya kailangan kaming bumawi sa blocking. For me, blocking is considered a form of attack at masaya ako at nasunod ang gameplan na pinapagawa ko,” said La Salle mentor Ramil de Jesus.
Lady Spikers’ setter Mika Esperanza also had a solid game, scoring five of her seven points from service aces.
Fille Cainglet was the lone bright spot for the Lady Eagles with 11 hits, as old reliables Bea Pascual and Dzi Gervacio could only score a combined three markers.
Ateneo slipped to 8-5 to tie Adamson in third spot and trail one and a half game behind defending champion University of Santo Tomas (9-3) in the race for the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
In the men’s division, Jay Depante, James Pecaña and JP Torres scored 13 points apiece as defending champion UST hammered out a 24-26, 25-15, 25-11, 25-15 triumph over La Salle for a 11-1 card. The Green Spikers fall to 8-5.