The DLSU Lady Spikers triumphed over the AdU Lady Falcons in straight sets, earlier today at the FilOil Flying V Centre, 25-16, 25-21, 25-20. Jolina Dela Cruz led the team from Taft to victory as she scored double digits with 10 points on 25 attacks. Michelle Cobb was also named the player of the match with three points, and 25 excellent sets. In AdU’s losing effort, Bernadette Flora and Mary Joy Dacoron contributed nine points each as the match cost them their second loss in the season. With the win, La Salle continues their clean sheet with a 2-0 win-loss record.
Many started comparing Dela Cruz to former Lady Spiker Ara Galang, who was once called a super rookie as well, when asked about this she states, “Iba po talaga si ate Ara, idol ko talaga siya pero iba talaga yung Ara Galang na sobrang all around talaga. Siguro kung nakikita po nila ako kay ate Ara, hindi ko po alam baka ganon talaga ako gumalaw.”
(Ate Ara is really different, she’s really my idol but she’s really one of a kind as she’s all around. If they really see me in ate Ara, I don’t know maybe that’s really how I move.)
Error-filled first set
Cobb started off the match for the Lady Spikers with a service ace, which was then followed by a cross-court spike courtesy of Chiara Permentilla. Before the first technical timeout, the teams traded points in which half of La Salle’s first eight points came from Adamson errors, 8-6. The timeout, however, did not stop the errors, as the next three points of the Lady Archers came from another set from the Falcons, 11-6. From there, both teams continued to trade points until they reached the second technical timeout with the Green-and-White leading, 16-13.
Once the second technical timeout ended, Adamson looked sharp and cut the lead to a single point after a La Salle error and a Dacoron block. The Taft-based squad was quick to react as they went on a swift 8-0 run. Half of the points yet again came from Adamson errors as the Lady Spikers led, 23-15. The run ultimately made the set out of reach for Adamson as May Luna finished it off with a strong hit in favor of La Salle, 25-16.
It was Permentilla who kept the game reasonably close for Adamson in the first set as it was only her and former DLSU Lady Spiker Eli Soyud who scored multiple times for Adamson in the first set. On the other side of the court, it was the duo of Dela Cruz and Luna who led the team in scoring with three points each in the first set. Moreover, both teams ended the set with a combined 16 attacks with Adamson and La Salle garnering 14 and seven errors, respectively.
Runs of the game
The second set started with the Soaring Falcons going on a 3-0 run, which was led by two hits courtesy of Flora. After coach Ramil de Jesus called a timeout, the Green-and-White were quick to respond, as they answered with a 5-0 run of their own, spearheaded by Aduke Ogunsanya’s quick hit and a kill block. The Lady Spikers led the Soaring Falcons, 8-6, after the first technical timeout, courtesy of a Soyud error.
After the technical timeout, La Salle went on another pair of 5-0 and 3-0 runs. It was fourth year student Norielle Ipac, who had a strong showing in the second set. Not only did she spearhead the runs, she also ended the first two sets with a total of five points, recording a new career high. Ipac’s running attacks proved to be difficult for the Falcons to stop as four out of her five points came off of one foot. The score heading into the second technical timeout was 16-9 in favor of the Green-and-White.
Once the second technical timeout concluded, Flora immediately made her presence felt as she scored through the blockers of DLSU. La Salle captain Desiree Cheng was quick to answer with a cross-court hit of her own, scoring in favor of La Salle, 17-10. After Flora swiftly answered Cheng’s score, she was then hit with a warning from the referee for taunting. The warning, though, did not faze Flora as she continued to give the Lady Spikers problems, scoring four points at the latter part of the set. After both teams continuously traded baskets, DLSU went on a 3-0 run in which Ogunsanya scored a crucial point after a long rally. The set ended after Trisha Genesis of the Soaring Falcons, sailed a hit outside 25-21.
Finishing strong
The Lady Spikers strongly opened the last set of their matchup against the Lady Falcons. With an Ogunsanya and Dela Cruz combination, they were able to go on a 5-0 run. Nonetheless, after head coach Airess Padda of Adamson called for a time-out, the Lady Spiker’s streak came to an abrupt stop with a drop ball courtesy of Soyud.
The two teams continued to trade points until DLSU reached the eighth-point mark for a technical time-out. Adamson’s veterans did not want to give the Lady Spikers an easy win as Permentilla and Dacoron contributed in the offensive and defensive ends for the team. Nevertheless, the defending champions showed their grit and tenacity as they went on another 6-0 run due to their relentless attacks. At the same time, La Salle placed a ton of pressure on the Lady Falcons that made them commit numerous errors.
Adamson made their last push of the match as they went on a 8-3 run led by Dacoron once more. The rookie of La Salle, Dela Cruz, ended the match with her 10th score in the game by a crosscourt spike that gave La Salle its second win of the season, 25-21.
After the game, head coach de Jesus shared, “Hindi ko inasahan na gagalaw ng maayos yung mga bata kasi knowing Adamson, very defensive sila, good defense, good passer, maayos din yung setting, pero nakakilos ng maayos yung mga bata.” De Jesus also pointed out that the team can still improve on the lack of communication, or when they fail to quickly adjust to the pace of the game.
(I didn’t expect that the kids would do well because knowing Adamson, they are very defensive, good defense, good passer, good setting as well, but the kids were able to do well.)
The Lady Spikers will look to keep their winning streak going as they face the National University Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday, 2 pm, at the same venue.
The scores
DLSU (75) – Dela Cruz 10, Cheng 9, Ogunsanya 9, Luna 8, Ipac 6, Cobb 3, Tiamzon 1, Clemente 0, Saga 0
AdU (57) – Dacoron 9, Flora 9, Permentilla 6, Soyud 6, Genesis 1, Igao 1, Ponce 1, Yondoc 1, Ave 0, Infante 0, Macaslang 0
