The third and fourth day of the UAAP Season 82 Beach Volleyball Tournament at the Sands at SM by the Bay saw opposite results for the DLSU Green and Lady Spikers. The Green Spikers encountered the NU Bulldogs, the FEU Tamaraws, and the UST Growling Tigers, and lost to all three opponents. Meanwhile, the Lady Spikers protected their undefeated record even as they faced the FEU Lady Tamaraws, the UE Lady Warriors, and the ADMU Lady Eagles.
Green Spikers drop three consecutive games
On September 28, the Green Spikers—coming from a hard-fought three-set win over UE, 19-21, 21-19, 15-5—were striving to achieve back-to-back wins against the NU Bulldogs and the FEU Tamaraws. While La Salle’s Ian Jumandos and Vince Maglinao couldn’t keep up with the Bulldogs and got swept, 21-14, 21-17.
The Taft-based squad did not fare well against last year’s first runners-up, the Tamaraws. The Morayta-based squad, led by Jeremiah Barrica and Jude Garcia, triumphed over DLSU, 21-12, 21-15, and plunged the Green Spikers’ win-loss record to 1-3.
The following day, September 29, the Green-and-White met with the defending champions UST. The duo of Jumandos and Maglinao fought against Growling Tigers Efraem Dimaculangan and Jaron Requiton. With no answer for Requiton’s offensive and defensive presence, La Salle lost to UST in straight sets, 21-9, 21-12, and dropped their fifth game of the tournament. The Green Spikers now hold a 1-5 slate and share the same record as UE heading into the final day.
Lady Spikers remain undefeated
Last September 28, the DLSU Lady Spikers extended their winning streak in the UAAP Beach Volleyball Tournament after defeating FEU Lady Tamaraws in three sets, 23-21, 21-11, 15-10. With the win, the Lady Spikers remained undefeated and sported a 4-0 win-loss record after the third day of the tournament.
Beach volleyball veteran Tin Tiamzon paired up with rookie Justine Jazareno to outlast Sheen Gallentes and Sheila Kiseo of the Lady Tamaraws, maintaining their winning ways. “I’m super thankful na partner [ko] si Justine and she’s with me, she’s got my back, I got her back…Kahit ganito yung standing we still have to work hard until the very end,” the veteran shared.
It was back-and-forth action between the two teams in the first set of the match. Neither team led the other by a wide margin thanks to both side’s impeccable offense and defense. A Jazareno service ace tied the first set at 16-all, breaking the momentum of the Morayta-based squad. However, the Lady Tamaraws found their rhythm and forced two deuces to get the first set, 23-21.
Even though the Green-and-White succumbed to the Green-and-Yellow in the first set, momentum had not left their side. Tiamzon found her groove with the help of Jazareno and attacked the other side of the court with authority. The team from Taft did not give any chance to the team from Morayta to lead in the second set. A powerful crosscourt attack by Tiamzon straight off the hands of Kiseo gave the set to the Lady Spikers, 21-11.
“Constant communication lalo na kapag may break or timeout, talagang usap lang kami para alam namin kung saan yung isa’t isa tsaka ma-cover namin yung isa’t isa,” Tiamzon highlighted the importance of proper communication for her team catching fire in the second set.
(Constant communication especially when there are breaks or timeouts. We have to talk so that we are able to cover one another.)
In the final set of the match, the Taft-based squad were forced to call an early timeout as the Morayta-based squad scored three straight points off miscommunications and errors from the team. From there, Jazareno and Tiamzon minimized their errors and quickly grabbed the lead from their opponents. Another powerful Tiamzon hit granted the set and ultimately the match to the Lady Spikers, 15-10.
Head coach Juvie Mangaring shared with The LaSallian that his team wasn’t in their groove during the first set, “Kanina nag senyas lang ako kasi medyo pigil pa yung galaw nila nung first set eh. Talagang diesel pa sila.”
(Earlier, I was signaling to the girls because they were holding back in the first set. They really work like diesel.)
The Lady Spikers then clashed with the UE Lady Warriors and ADMU Lady Eagles on succeeding day of the tournament. Tiamzon and Jazareno made quick work of the UE’s Lyen Ritual and Juliet Catindig as they cruised to a two set victory over the Lady Warriors, 21-11, 21-9.
La Salle was evenly matched against Lady Eagles’ Ponggay Gaston and Roma Mae Doromal. While DLSU secured the first set, 21-15, due to Tiamzon and Jazareno’s offense, ADMU played even better in the second set. With the set tied at 19-all, Tiamzon’s veteran experience came into play as she maintained her composure and proved to be the deciding factor that helped lift the Lady Spikers to take the second set, 21-19, and obtain a straight set victory over the Lady Eagles.
The Green Spikers will look to end the season on a high note and attempt to secure a victory over the ADMU Blue Eagles on Wednesday, October 2, at 8 am at the Sands at SM by the Bay. On the other hand, Lady Spikers will look to wrap up the elimination round with an unblemished record as they face the UST Golden Tigresses on the same day, at the same venue, at 10:40 am.
