Ateneo beats La Salle to kick off UAAP Volleyball Last Dance
ANILA, Philippines - Facing a huge thrice-to-beat handicap, Ateneo de Manila University put on an unfazed and inspired display of nerves and composure, demolishing reigning champion De La Salle University in four sets, 17-25, 25-23, 25-13, 25-20, in the 76th UAAP Women's Volleyball tournament Finals, Wednesday, March 5, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Lady Spikers bucked a sluggish opening set performance as they sent La Salle's 30-game winning streak to a screeching halt to keep their title hopes alive and extend the series into a second game on Saturday.
After going 0-2 against the Lady Spikers in the eliminations, the Loyola crew - who overcame a twice-to-beat disadvantage against National University in the semifinals - relied on not one but three players as rookie Michelle Morente poured in 17 points, while Alyssa Valdez and Amy Ahomiro each finished with 16 to tow Ateneo to a complete turnaround against the heavily-favored on paper La Salle side.
By winning the opening fray of the Finals, Ateneo turns the title race into a virtual best-of-three affair with both squads needing to win two games before they can raise the Season 76 championship trophy.
It was not, however, an all-Ateneo spectacle as the Lady Spikers, who are coming off an 18-day break after sweeping all of their 14 elimination round assignments, initially showed no signs of rust, erecting their biggest lead of the game at 10 points, 16-6 to run away with a 25-17 first set win.
But the Lady Eagles turned the game around from then on as they engaged the Taft Avenue-based squad to a close second set duel, gaining a 22-20 lead courtesy of an Ahomiro hit.
La Salle then scored two unanswered points to tie the match at 22-all as Cyd Demecillo stopped the bleeding and Morente getting denied by the net but Ateneo showed solid composure in crunch time with Valdez and Ahomiro scoring back-to-back to wrap the second set and tie the game at one set apiece, 25-23.
It was downhill for La Salle in the next two frames as Ateneo caught them in the backfoot for most of the third, pulling away at 17-10 before taking the driver seat, 25-13.
Looking to finish off the defending titlists, the Katipunan side then caught fire in the fourth canto as their three-pronged offensive force of Valdez, Ahomiro, and Morente led them to an 18-10 bubble but La Salle refused to be blown away with Ara Galang and Demecillo cutting Ateneo's lead to just two, 22-20.
Ahomiro was there, though, for Ateneo as she brought her squad to matchpoint with Valdez delivering the knockout blow to set up another date with La Salle on March 8 at the Big Dome.
Demecillo led La Salle's losing cause as she tallied in a team-high 16 markers while Galang added 13 and skipper Abi Marano finished with 10.
It was a different story on Tai Bundit's side of the court as Morente registered 15 kills off her total output and Valdez added 10 digs for the Lady Eagles.
Game 2 of the 76th UAAP Women's Finals will start at 4pm on Saturday, March 8, at the Araneta Coliseum.
