Titleholder De La Salle Lady Spikers continued their dominance after repulsing very potent National University Lady Bulldogs, 14-25, 26-24, 25-21, 25-20 to complete a 14-game elimination sweep in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
photo credit: uaapsports.tv
With the big victory, La Salle, which overcame a first set slip-up to down NU, earned an outright finals berth with a precious thrice-to-beat incentive and forced a step-ladder semis. The Lady Bulldogs meanwhile will still have a twice-to-beat advantage heading in the playoffs.
After dropping the first frame to the gritty NU side, the Lady Spikers then got back into the groove of things and played much better to win the second set despite the Sampaloc-based squad’s gallant stand.
“First set reminder ‘yun para magising kami (kung) ano ba yung laro ng La Salle, ano ba yung tono, it took one set na magising at maka-compose ng bago,” said team captain Aby Maraño.
La Salle took control of the third before the Lady Bulldogs threatened again coming close at 19-21 in fourth after a 5-0 spurt but the three-time champions showed enough composure down the stretch to finish of the match with a 4-1 run.
Last year’s co-MVP Ara Galang and Maraño showed the way scoring 15 and 14 points respectively while Mika Reyes also chipped in 11 markers for the Taft-based squad, which remained unbeaten in 30 straight times dating back from last season.
Twin towers Jaja and Dindin Santiago led NU with 14 and 13 hits, while Carmina Aganon contributed 10 points.
The Lady Bulldogs await the winner of the knock-out game of Ateneo Lady Eagles and FEU Lady Tams to battle in second phase of the semis.