ATENEO outhustled National University (NU) in a thrilling fourth-set duel, hacking out a 15-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-23 victory to formalize its claim of the No. 1 spot in the Final Four of the Shakey’s V-League Season 12-Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan City on Saturday.
The Lady Eagles blew a three-point lead late in the fourth frame, but gallantly fought back from 17-20 down behind Alyssa Valdez, Amy Ahomiro and Bea de Leon to frustrate the Lady Bulldogs and notch their seventh straight win that capped their sweep of the elims and the quarters of the tournament presented by PLDT Home Ultera.
Valdez, doing what she does best, blasted in four hits, while Ahomiro banged in two of her own and de Leon came through with a timely block off Aiko Urdas to end the thrilling one-hour, 31-minute encounter between two of the best teams in the league sponsored by Shakey’s.
“Coach [Tai] kept reminding us to just play happy and enjoy the game,” Valdez said. “But everybody played well and we’re happy to get the win.”
NU thus settled for No. 2 on a 5-2 record for a clash with the No. 3 squad Far Eastern University in the Final Four of the event backed by Mikasa and Accel and organized by Sports Vision. The Lady Tamaraws rode the momentum of a strong fourth set romp and dominated the Universirty of Santo Tomas (UST) Tigresses, 25-16, 19-25, 27-29, 25-15, 15-10, to also finish with a 5-2 card. NU, however, took the second spot with a higher tiebreak score. The loss dropped UST to fourth at 4-3 and faces the specter of going through a playoff with Arellano University (3-3), in case the Lady Chiefs get past the ousted College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers at the close of the quarters phase on Sunday.
The Tigresses threatened last at 10-14 after falling by seven match points at 7-14 but Royse Tubino scored off-the-block to wrap it up and seal a best-of-three semis showdown with the Lady Bulldogs.
The Lady Bulldogs, who overwhelmed the Lady Eagles in the opening set but dropped the next two, actually looked poised to sending the match into a deciding fifth as Pablo and Jaja Santiago led a sizzling NU six-hit roll that shoved them to a 20-17 lead in the fourth. But Ahomiro scored on a quick set and an ace while Valdez, moving over to the front row, scored four, including a soft tip to lift the Lady Eagles to a 23-22 lead. The Ateneo skipper made an error in the next play to enable NU to draw level but rebounded with attack in deep right before de Leon foiled Urdas’s spike that bounced back into an unguarded spot in the left side of the NU court.
NU, thus settled for No. 2 on a 5-2 slate for a clash with the No. 3 squad in the Final Four of the event backed by Mikasa and Accel and organized by Sports Vision.
Valdez finished with 28 points, including 25 attack points, while Ahomiro added 10 markers and Jhoanna Maraguinot, De Leon, Gizelle Tan, Kim Gequillana and guest player Kayla Tianco-William combined for 19 hits. Tan also produced 29 excellent sets.
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza