After assuring themselves a semifinals birth in their win last week, UAAP champion Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles dominated the defending Collegiate Conference champion Far Eastern University Tamaraws in straight sets, 25-19, 25-14, 25-18 in the Shakeys V-League Collegiate Conference quarterfinals at the FilOil Flying V Arena, Saturday afternoon.
The Lady Eagles trailed behind the Lady Tamaraws in the early parts of the first set before Alyssa Valdez scored two straight points to tie the set at seven-all. An attack error from Bernadeth Pons gave the Lady Eagles an 8-7 advantage in the first technical timeout. Afterwards the Lady Eagles, behind Valdez and Jhoanna Maraguinot, went on a scoring rampage to give Ateneo a 13-8 lead. FEU relied on guest player Jovelyn Gonzaga, Kyle Negrito, Geneveve Casugod and Toni Rose Basas to put them back in the game at 13 all. From there, the Lady Tamaraws committed errors that helped the Lady Eagles take a 16-14 lead in the second technical timeout. Bea De Leon and Amy Ahomiro helped the Lady Eagles offense to bury the Lady Tamaraws in the set as FEU failed to find any remedies for the scoring onslaught of the Lady Eagles.
FEU struggled to set their foot on the match with an 8-3 disadvantage against Ateneo in the first timeout. The Lady Eagles offensive machine once again overwhelmed the Lady Tamaraws with Valdez leading the charge to dispatch Morayta based squad.
In the third set, the Lady Tamaraws still struggled to find answers for the barrage of attacks of the Lady Eagles as they found themselves at a 16-6 hole in the second technical timeout. The Lady Tamaraws tried to get back into the match with Gonzaga and Pons leading the charge, but the Lady Eagles, behind Maraguitnot and Amy Ahomiro, provided crucial plays to book Ateneo’s fifth win.
Ateneo Team Captain Alyssa Valdez said the team played well in this match, yet there are still things that need to be improve with the team .
“We’re really happy, we really played well today. Pero as usual, sinabi ni Coach Tai (Bundit) na meron pa i-improve lagi sa amin. Lagi niyang sinasabi sa practice that we have to improve,” said Valdez.
Valdez led the Lady Eagles with 15 points, 13 coming from attacks, while Maraguinot and Ahomiro chipped 11 and nine points respectively.
Gonzaga was the lone Lady Tamaraw in double figures with 11 points, all coming from attacks.
The Lady Eagles will wrap up their quarterfinals campaign against the National University Lady Bulldogs on September 5 at 12: 45 PM while the Lady Tamaraws will try to bounce back against the UST Golden Tigresses at 3:00 PM in the same day at the same venue.
The Scores:
ADMU (3) – Valdez 15, Maraguinot 11, Ahomiro 9, De Leon 6, Gequillana 6, Tan 1, Madayag 0, Dungo 0, Tiangco-William 0, De Jesus(L)
FEU (0) – Gonzaga 11, Pons 5, Negrito 3, Casugod 2, Tubino 2, Basas 2, Guino-o 1, Palma 1, Cayuna 1, Malabanan 0, Atienza (L),Duremdes (L)
