UAAP Champion Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles dispatched De La Salle University-Dasmarinas Lady Patriots in straight sets, 25-13, 25-19, 25-22 to keep their winning record unblemished in the Shakeys V-League Collegiate Conference at the FilOil Flying V Arena, late Sunday afternoon.
Through impressive floor defense, the Lady Eagles gave the Lady Patriots’ attackers difficulty building offensive momentum. UAAP MVP, Alyssa Valdez, scored three straight service aces to give the Lady Eagles a 9-2 lead. Valdez’s offensive brilliance rubbed off on her team, which had no problems burying DLSU in the opening set.
Helped by back-to-back aces, Jhoanna Maraguinot accounted for Ateneo’s first three points in the second set. Afterwards, the Lady Eagles continued their scoring rampage to maintain a 15-9 lead. The Lady Patriots tried to get back into the set with contributions from guest player, Gyzelle Sy, and collegiate players, Cherry Rose Nunag and Mariebeth Lara, to keep the set at reach, 17-15. Still, Ateneo managed to engulf the fiery Lady Patriots behind Maraguinot, Kim Gequillana, and UAAP Finals MVP, Amy Ahomiro, to book a 2-0 lead against the Lady Patriots.
Ateneo and De La Salle Dasmarinas went back and forth in the third set with neither giving each other much of a break. Ateneo’s Gequillana scored a kill for a 17-16 lead, but the Lady Patriots still had gas left in the tank, and eventually grabbed the lead momentarily. Holding a slim lead at 22-21, De La Salle Dasmarinas guest player, Desiree Dadang, committed an attack error to hand Ateneo a 23-21 lead. Bea De Leon then blocked Iumi Yongco to give Ateneo match point, but Yongco managed to score a kill to keep the Lady Patriots’ hopes of extending the match alive. Maraguinot doused those hopes, crushing an attack down the line and iced the Lady Eagles’ third win in as many games.
Still National team standout and Ateneo Team Captain, Alyssa Valdez, thinks the Lady Eagles still need to improve, despite their impressive win.
“Syempre maraming nawala sa amin, at least nakikita namin ang kailangan i-improve,” said Valdez.
Valdez, who saw limited minutes in their last game against the San Sebastian Lady Stags last week, scored 22 points, while Maraguinot and De Leon chipped 12 and 10 markers apiece.
Yongco was the only Lady Patriot to reach double figures with 10 points, and Lara contributed seven points.
The Lady Eagles next assignment is against the College of Saint Benilde Lady Blazers on August 1 at 12:45 PM, while the Lady Patriots will face the San Sebastian Lady Stags at 3:00 PM on the same day at the same venue.
The scores:
ADMU (3) – Valdez 22, Maraguinot 12, De Leon 10, Gequillana 8, Ahomiro 2, Sato 1, Madayag 1, De Jesus(L), Lavitoria (L)
DLSU-D (0)Â – Yongco 10, Lara 7, Dadang 5, Nunag 5, Sy 4, Navidad 3, Abalos 1, Tiangco 0, Pasco 0, Galicia 0, Amutan (L)
