The DLSU Lady Spikers’ undefeated run is finally over.
After successfully sweeping the elimination round with a clean 14-0 win-loss record, the Lady Spikers suffered their first loss of the season as the ADMU Lady Eagles took Game One of the UAAP Season 76 Women’s Volleyball finals in four sets, 17-25, 25-23, 25-13, 25-20, at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum last March 5.
Rookie Lady Eagle Michelle Morente fired up the Katipunan-based squad with 17 points followed by team captain Alyssa Valdez and Amy Ahomiro who contributed 16 points apiece.
With Ateneo’s victory, they ended La Salle’s 30-game winning streak which started in the second game of the UAAP Season 75 eliminations while they extended their own winning streak to eight games.
Shaking off the rust
Good offense and solid coverage made it easy for the Lady Spikers to pull away early in the first set with an 11-point lead, 14-3. The Taft-based squad played sound volleyball with steady contributions coming from Ara Galang and Cyd Demecillo. Galang tallied a total of 13 points while Demecillo chipped in 16 points for the match.
Despite an ace from La Salle team captain Abigail Marano that brought her squad to set point, the Lady Eagles still managed to score three straight points to move within seven, 24-17. However, an attack from Demecillo finally sealed the set for the Lady Spikers, 25-17.
The momentum suddenly shifted to the Lady Eagles in the second set as they were more aggressive and took the lead for the first time at 12-11 courtesy of Ahomiro. La Salle lost their coverage and Ateneo easily took advantage of their errors. The Lady Spikers tried to catch up late in the set and tied the score at 20-all, but Ateneo was more composed from that point on and an outside hit by Mika Reyes finally gave Ateneo its first set win over La Salle this season, 25-23.
In the third set, the Lady Spikers found themselves in an unfamiliar situation. Their offense failed to work for them as the Lady Eagles continued their dominance through the play of Morente, Valdez and Ahomiro. The Blue-and-White maintained their distance from La Salle with a six point lead, 13-7, and they continued to silence the Lady Spikers as Morente eventually sealed the set, 25-13. It was the first time for La Salle to lose consecutive sets since the first finals game last year against ADMU.
Head coach Ty Bundit’s Ateneo squad maintained their composure and intensity in the fourth set while the Lady Spikers were unable to set the right tone as they were unable to execute consistent plays. The trio of Morente, Valdez, and Ahomiro continued to fuel the Lady Eagles as they zoomed ahead of the Lady Spikers, 18-11. The latter plays became more critical for the Lady Spikers as they took it one point at time to keep their hopes in the game alive.
Galang and Demecillo led the rally for the Lady Spikers and cut their opponents’ lead to just two, 20-18. However, crucial errors from Marano and Demecillo cost the Lady Spikers the set and the game. Ahomiro brought ADMU to match point then Valdez scored the final point to seal the set, 25-20.
Room for improvement
According to La Salle’s head coach Ramil De Jesus, the long break could’ve affected his team’s performance as they were inactive for more than two weeks. He shares, “Nakakatakot kasi yung mahabang pahinga since yung kalaban tuloy-tuloy [ang laro], well-motivated dahil ang daming dinaanan na trials na nasurvive para makarating sa finals.”
He also mentioned that he didn’t feel Marano’s presence during the game. “Actually hindi ko siya naramdaman kanina kasi walang receive. Pag walang receive, walang quick,” he explains.
De Jesus didn’t promise anything regarding what to expect from the team in the next game, but he said that they have to work harder in order to bounce back come Game Two. “Mas dobleng effort pa ang dapat gawin kasi hindi pwedeng ganun lang,” he expresses.
The Lady Spikers will seek their first win of the finals in Game 2 which is scheduled on March 8, Saturday, at 4pm in the SMART-Araneta Coliseum. The series is now a virtual best-of-three and only two wins stand between these two teams and the championship.
