MANILA – De La Salle University Lady Spikers moved on the cusp of its third straight crown after a 29-27, 25-21, 25-22 win over Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 80 finals last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Kim Kianna Dy led the way with 10 points, on eight attacks, one block and a service ace.
May Luna chipped in nine markers while Mary Joy Baron and Ernestine Tiamzon had eight points each.
The Lady Spikers can capture its 11th UAAP women’s volleyball championship with a victory over the Lady Tamaraws in Game 2 of the best-of-three titular showdown on Wednesday.
It took advantage of Lady Tamaraws’ erratic plays in the opening set to build a 23-18 lead. FEU rallied back and had a chance to snatch the set but service errors from them followed by a late hit by Tiamzon hand the set to DLSU.
The Lady Tamaraws were up early in the second set but could not hang on to the lead, allowing the Lady Spikers to surge to a 21-17 lead.
The Lady Tamaraws tried for another run to come to within 21-23 but hits from Luna and Michelle Cobb closed the set for DLSU.
The Lady Spikers struggled early in the third set and was down 12-15 before making a 7-0 blast, with four coming from Luna, for a 19-15 lead.
FEU came to within 21-23 on DLSU errors but miscues of their own allowed the Lady Spikers to snatch the win.
Heather Guino-o finished with 14 points while stars Bernadeth Pons, Celine Domingo and Toni Rose Basas struggled with nine, eight and six points, respectively, for the Lady Tamaraws.
In the men’s division, National University Bulldogs moved closer from reclaiming the crown with a 25-20, 25-19, 25-23 win over Ateneo Blue Eagles in Game 1 of the best-of-three finals.
Bryan Bagunas led the way with double-double 19 points and 16 excellent receptions. James Natividad had 17 markers while Madzlan Gampong contributed 11 points for the Bulldogs.
BOX SCORE:
DLSU – Dy 10, Luna 9, Baron 8, Tiamzon 8, Cobb 4, Ogunsaya 3, Cheng 2, Layug 1, Saga 0, Ipac 0, Macandili (L).
FEU – Guino-o 14, Pons 9, Domingo 8, Basas 6, Negrito 4, Carandang 4, Malabanan 2, Villareal 2, Hernandez 0, Cayuna 0, Duremdes (L), Atienza (L).
Set Scores: 29-27, 25-21, 25-22./PN
