Halfway through the season, the DLSU Lady Spikers remain in prime position for a Final Four spot with a 5-2 win-loss record, currently in second place behind rivals Ateneo. The same cannot be said for the Green Spikers, however, as the team only managed to win just one game in the same seven-game stretch, finishing with a dismal 1-6 record that puts them in seventh place.
The second round of eliminations starts today, March 5, at the FilOil Arena in San Juan. The Green Spikers are set to face the UP Fighting Maroons, who have a 4-3 win-loss card, at 8 am, while the Lady Spikers will face the third-place FEU Lady Tamaraws in the day’s final game at 3:30 pm.
Almost but not quite
The Lady Spikers failed to sustain their winning momentum after faltering against the UST Golden Tigresses last Wednesday, March 2, in straight sets, 25-21, 25-22, 25-21.
La Salle struggled to contain the duo of EJ Laure and Cherry Rondina. The two combined for 24 points while being put in great positions to score by setter Player of the Game Alyssa Teope, who had three points and 15 excellent sets.
Ara Galang scored a game-high 15 points on 14 spikes, while Majoy Baron added 10 points for DLSU. However, the team came out flat against the struggling Tigresses despite winning over the defending champions, the ADMU Lady Eagles, just a few days prior.
Meanwhile, the FEU Lady Tamaraws were on the other end of an upset result. They took down perennial contenders NU in a resounding sweep, 25-22, 25-21, 25-21, in their game last Sunday, February 28, at the FilOil Arena.
Bernadeth Pons and Toni Basas took on most the scoring load for the surging Tamaraws, dropping 18 and 16 points, respectively, in the rout. Jasmine Nabor and Jaja Santiago had 12 apiece, while Joreille Singh added 10 points in the Lady Bulldogs’ third loss this season.
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In their first round meeting, La Salle swept the Morayta-based squad in three sets, 29-27, 25-23, 25-20. Despite the result, the game was much closer than it seemed, with FEU fighting tooth and nail in every set. Three players scored in double figures for DLSU, although it was Kim Fajardo’s 35 excellent sets that were crucial to the victory.
Second round resurrection
The Green Spikers have been struggling so far, dropping their fifth straight game against the UST Growling Tigers last Wednesday, 25-23, 25-21, 25-19. The loss marked their sixth loss in seven games, with only the winless UE Red Warriors faring worse than the slumping Taft-based squad.
Manuel Medina led the Growling tigers with 14 points, while teammate Arnold Bautista added 11. La Salle team captain Raymark Woo had a fine performance with a game-high 18 points on 15 attacks. He failed to draw enough support from his teammates as no other player scored in double figures.
UP, on the other hand, came off a rousing victory against the UE Red Warriors. They defeated the Red Warriors in five thrilling sets, 25-21, 25-27, 25-19, 20-25, 15-12, to close out their first round campaign on a good note.
Alfred Valbuena was the man of the match, dropping 23 points on 20 attacks to lead the Fighting Maroons. Wendell Miguel dropped 19 points of his own to aid in the winning cause. Their victory boosted their final four aspirations as they tied NU for fourth place in the standings.
Edward Caposano and Vince Arbot paced UE with a combined 46 points. Sadly, their efforts weren’t enough to give the Red Warriors their first win this season.
The Green Spikers lost in four sets to the Diliman-based squad in their first round meeting. Five players hit double-digit scoring for the Fighting Maroons, led by Miguel’s 15 points. Woo had 26 points in the competitive match.
