Needing just one more win to advance to the next stage, the Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles continued their dominant run with a decisive win over the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 25-20, 25-10, 25-18, at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Ahead 21-17 in the first set, Ateneo lost grip of their offense and allowed FEU to come within one, 21-20. The Lady Eagles then stomped on the pedal from there, scoring the next four points, helped by an Ivana Agudo attack error.
The Lady Eagles’ momentum continued, grabbing a 14-2 second set lead, leaving FEU dazed. Ateneo then shut the door on FEU in the third set, erasing their early four-point lead and establishing a 23-18 gap to close the match.
Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro was delighted with his team’s play compared to their five-set win over the Lady Tamaraws in the first round.
“I’m happy [kasi] ‘yung mga players ko, they responded to the challenge. We know naman FEU will give a challenge,” said Almadro
“Sinabi namin sa sarili namin, sa team na expect FEU will give us a great fight, instinct sa kanila ang fighter because of their winning tradition. We have to level up our intensity and energy,” the decorated men’s volleyball head coach added.
Ponggay Gaston and Kat Tolentino each provided 11 points, while middle blockers Maddie Madayag and Bea De Leon managed seven points, each.
FEU gave up 27 errors to Ateneo’s 18. No Lady Tamaraw reached double-digits, with Jerrili Malabanan tallying eight markers.
Both teams play their next matches at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Ateneo (9-1) take on the National University Lady Bulldogs (3-7) on Sunday. Meanwhile, FEU (6-4) face the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons (6-4) on Saturday.
The Scores
ADMU (3) – Gaston 11, Tolentino 11, De Leon 7, Madayag 7, Wong 4, Gandler 1, Gequillana (L), Ravena (L)
FEU (0) – Malabanan 8, Guino-O 7, Villareal 6, Negrito 3, Ronquillo 3, Agudo 2, Carandang 2, Cayuna 0, Domingo 0, Hernandez 0, Duremdes (L)
