Ateneo de Manila University ended its five-game skid with a sweep of winless University of the East, 25-23, 25-19, 29-27, in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament on Saturday afternoon at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.
With Dona de Leon and Jihan Chuatico leading the charge, the Blue Eagles finally broke out of their prolonged slump. The team improved to a 2-11 record ahead of their final Season 88 assignment against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws on Wednesday, April 22, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Yeah, it’s the purpose. When you need to increase the strong mind, as I told the player all the time, you need to try to do your best all the time. And in this situation, it doesn’t matter if we start well or not. And you need to fight all the time,” Ateneo head coach Sergio Veloso said.
“This is the purpose. Never, never give up. You need to stay at the top level all the time. In the end, you have a good fight. They continue with a strong focus in the end,” he added.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The Lady Warriors were on track to extend the match to a fourth set after an Angel Pepino hit off the block and a Van Bangayan attack off the block pushed Ateneo into a 24-22 deficit. However, consecutive points from Ana Hermosura and Jlo delos Santos tied the frame at 24-all.
From there, Ateneo had to survive two UE set points before taking a slim 27-26 lead off an Ashley Cañete service error and a Khy Cepada attack mistake.
UE briefly tied the set following a KC Cortez service error, but Bangayan committed another attack error before Delos Santos delivered the game-winning ace that sealed Ateneo’s second win of Season 88.
“For me, we’re so very happy kasi nga, parang ilang days kami nagfi-film viewing at pinupush kami ni coach Sergio this week para mabigay namin yung best namin. Para sa akin, nagawa ko na yung role ko ‘eh, and ever since nasa first round, ginagawa ko yung best ko,” De Leon said, who led Ateneo with 14 points on 11 attacks, two blocks, and one ace in the one-hour-and-39-minute match.
Second-year middle blocker Jihan Chuatico added 12 points on seven attacks and five blocks. Hermosura finished with 11 points, 11 excellent digs, and nine excellent receptions.
Delos Santos contributed nine points on six attacks and three blocks, along with seven excellent digs and four excellent receptions, while Pacia chipped in five points and two excellent digs.
Cortez directed the offense with 22 excellent sets, adding four points on three attacks and one ace.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, UE ended Season 88 without a win once again, becoming the first UAAP women’s volleyball team to suffer back-to-back winless seasons since the Lady Warriors went three straight years without a victory from Seasons 75 to 77.
Cepada paced UE with 18 points on 15 attacks, two aces, and one block, along with 13 excellent receptions and 11 excellent digs, while Bangayan added 12 points on 11 attacks and one block with eight excellent digs.
Pepino finished with nine points, four excellent digs, and four excellent receptions.
Sofia Arasan tallied 14 excellent sets, while Angge Reyes contributed 12 excellent digs and eight excellent receptions.
