The DLSU Lady Spikers will seek to clinch a Final Four berth as they face the struggling UE Lady Warriors after a straight-set rout of the UP Lady Maroons last Sunday, March 19. So far, UE has only managed to win one out of all of its 10 games this season. The Lady Warriors are currently ranked seventh in the league, one spot ahead of the last place AdU Lady Falcons.
On the other hand, the Lasallians have won all of their last three games to start the second round. They fall behind the league leader ADMU Lady Eagles by just one win with the prior holding a 9-2 win-loss record.
Contrasting momentum
The Lady Spikers were able to avenge their first-round loss to UP in three straight sets, 27-25, 25-11, 25-17. MaJoy Baron led DLSU with 16 points on three blocks and six aces, an improvement after only scoring nine points in their first matchup against the Lady Maroons. La Salle was also able to find offense through its hitters, Tin Tiamzon, Kim Kianna Dy, and Desiree Cheng, who also scored 11 points each.
The struggling Lady Warriors, contrastingly, have been unable to find decent defense to keep up with other teams in the league. In their recent loss to NU last Sunday, they only managed to record one successful block while their opponents finished with 12 overall. Shaya Adorador led the Lady Warriors with 16 points on 12 spikes and four service aces.
One sided affair
In their first round meeting, the Lady Spikers easily took care of the Lady Warriors in three sets, 25-18, 25-14, 25-16. It was a comeback victory for DLSU as it then came off a loss to UP, also in straight sets. Dy was a major factor on offense, scoring 12 points on 11 attacks and a service ace. For the Lady Warriors, Mary Anne Mendrez finished the game with nine points off eight attacks and a service ace in the losing effort.
The Lady Spikers have been showing composure down the crucial stretches of their recent games, something that they were missing when they started the season. Despite facing a struggling team, there is no room for complacency for the team from Taft. While La Salle has been potent and frenetic on offense and defense, respectively, unforced errors have plagued the team.
The Green-and-White and Lady Warriors will square off for the second time this season later today, March 25, at 2 pm in the FilOil Flying V Centre.
