UAAP: Lady Spikers sweep UP, FEU upsets Green Spikers

After claiming their first win of the season against the UP Fighting Maroons, the DLSU Green Spikers suffered another loss after they fell short against the FEU Tamaraws in four sets, 25-19, 14-25, 25-22, 25-15, yesterday at The Arena in San Juan. They now hold a 1-2 win-loss card along with ADMU and UST. Meanwhile, their female counterparts, the Lady Spikers, received an early Christmas gift earlier today as they ended 2013 undefeated with a win against the UP Lady Maroons. They defeated the Katipunan-based squad in straight sets, 25-9, 25-21, 25-19. Ara Galang led the Lady Spikers with 16 points, 11 coming from attacks, two from blocks along with three service aces.  

A sudden fall

The Green Spikers lost a close first set against the Tamaraws but managed to outscore their opponents in the second set. Red Christensen took the lead for the Green-and White with 17 points, 15 of which were from attacks. La Salle tried to keep it close again in the third set but failed to loosen up the tight hands of FEU who were led by Gregorio Dolor who tallied 15 points, followed by Jeric Gacutan and Joshua Barrica who scored 13 points apiece. Despite the Green Spikers’ 15 points in the blocking department compared to only six for the Tamaraws, the former faltered in the fourth set, losing 25-15.  

Unblemished record

Third year Lady Spiker Mika Reyes started the noise for the Lady Spikers in the first set as her blocks and hits kept UP behind by as much as 10 points in the first set. The Lady Spikers continued their dominance and took over the first set, winning it with a 16 point advantage, 25-9. UP sought their resurgence in the second set and maintained a close distance from La Salle. The Lady Spikers took the early lead, but UP made a 4-0 run that tied the score at 10.

The Lady Maroons persistently chased after the Taft-based Spikers as they were led by Monica Ortiz and Katherine Bersola. UP had another run of four straight points that cut La Salle’s lead to only one point, 22-21. However, an error by UP sealed their fate as La Salle won the second set, 25-21. The third set seemed to be a replay of the second as UP gave the Lady Spikers another close match. Ortiz and team captain Angeli Araneta kept UP alive in the set, but Galang became the thorn in their side as the reigning UAAP co-MVP lifted DLSU. Another UP error secured the set and a fourth straight win for the Lady Spikers, 25-19. La Salle’s match against UP marked their last game of the year and according to head coach Ramil de Jesus, the team will still continue its training during the Christmas break.

“Sa ngayon siguro, una, magbabakasyon muna ng mga ilang araw tapos babalik [na ng] training ulit. So, right after ng Christmas, back to training.”

The Green Spikers will conclude 2013 with their match against the UST Growling Tigers on December 18, Wednesday, at the Arena in San Juan while the Lady Spikers will seek to extend their winning ways to five against the FEU Lady Tamaraws in the coming year, January 5, 2014.