Powered by their returning veterans, the De La Salle University Lady Spikers withstood opening game jitters and handled the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in straight sets 29-27, 25-23, 25-20 in the UAAP Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the PhilSports Arena, earlier today.
The Lady Tams got the jump on the Lady Spikers in the first set. Having trailed by as much as four, opposite hitter Carol Cerveza allowed DLSU to keep pace and force a deuce. FEU got two chances at set point but La Salle saved both, eventually sealing the set after FEU threw away consecutive errors.
FEU again ran ahead in the following frame, taking a three-point lead, 14-11, off great offense and defense, but La Salle’s Mika Reyes and May Luna teamed up to eventually force a tie, 15-all. Both squads then traded the lead before La Salle broke away, 20-18. DLSU consistently went to Ara Galang and Cerveza to protect the lead and the set win. La Salle wasted no time putting the final set out of reach. Their lead inflated to as much as eight, 20-12, as FEU played carelessly.
Mika Reyes led a balanced La Salle scoresheet with 13 points, while Cerveza and Galang, who had returned from a horrific knee injury suffered during last season’s Final Four, had 10 points apiece.
“Masyado pa kaming maraming errors. We really need to limit those to less than eight or nine if we want to win and score more off our own effort,” said La Salle assistant coach Benson Bocboc.
Sophomore Toni Basas towed the Lady Tams with 13 markers, while team captain Remy Palma amassed 12.
La Salle will next face the 1-0 UP Lady Maroons on Saturday, February 6, 4 p.m. at the PhilSports Arena. FEU will take on the 0-1 UE Lady Warriors on Sunday, February 7, 4 p.m. at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Scores
DLSU (3) – Reyes 13, Galang 10, Cerveza 10, Baron 8, Luna 5, Soyud 5, Fajardo 4, Tiamzon 1, Saga (L), Macandili (L)
FEU (0) – Basas 13, Palma 10, Pons 9, Guino-O 4, Malabanan 4, Villareal 1, Negrito 0, Hernandez 0, Duremdes (L), Dionela (L)
