MANILA – De La Salle University Lady Spikers cruised to its fifth straight win in the UAAP Season 84 women’s volleyball after a 19-25, 25-18, 20-25, 25-22, 15-12 beating of Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles on Tuesday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Jyne Soreño played another huge game against Ateneo with 17 points off the bench. Alleiah Malaluan had the same tally with 17 to go with 13 excellent receptions and 12 digs.
Jolina Dela Cruz unleashed her best performance this season with 14 points, while Thea Gagate chipped in 12 points.
The Lady Spikers improved to 10-3 slate. Ahead by just a point in the deciding fifth set, it strung together three straight points with two of them coming from Blue Eagles errors to reach match point, 14-10.
Faith Nisperos scored on a block before Takako Fujimoto nailed a service ace to pull Ateneo within two, 12-14. However, Soreño laced an off-the-block kill for the victory.
“Ang message lang talaga is kailangan gustuhin,” said Lady Spikers assistant coach Benson Bocboc. “Kung mas gugustuhin ninyo, makukuha natin. Talagang ginusto nila, bawat point makikita niyo napakahirap.”
Nisperos dropped a game-high 29 points with 15 excellent receptions. Erika Raagas chimed in 17 points as the Blue Eagles fell to 7-6, tied with Adamson University Lady Falcons.
The Lady Falcons, for its part, grabbed a piece of the fourth seed after eliminating University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 25-18, 16-25, 25-22, 25-17.
Ahead by just two, the Lady Falcons went on an 8-3 closing run to take the first set, 25-18, before UP answered in the second period, thanks to a 14-4 run midway for the equalizer, 25-16.
After a close 25-22 win in the third set, the Lady Falcons then took it up a notch in the fourth, cruising to a 16-7 start on the way to a dominant 25-17 scoreline for the victory.
Trisha Genesis led the Lady Falcons with 18 points and completed a triple-double with 13 excellent receptions and 12 digs. Rizza Cruz added 12 points while May Ann Nuique pounced 11 points off the bench./PN
