The Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles continue to impress after sweeping number one seed Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 25-14, 28-26, 25-22, in Game 1 of the 13th Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference Semifinals at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Four Lady Eagles scored in double figures, with captain ball Michelle Morente and Bea de Leon scoring 13 points apiece. Kim Gequillana had 12, while Ana Gopico added 11 markers. Setter Jia Morado had 39 excellent sets in tonight’s victory.
The Morayta volleybelles opened the semis series without star hitter Bernadeth Pons, who sustained an ankle injury during the pre-game warm-ups.
Ateneo steamrolled through the opening set, utilizing their loaded services and through-the-block hits to widen their five-point, 9-4, lead to 20-12. The Lady Tams were lost the whole frame and never recovered, allowing Ateneo to cruise past them and take a 1-0 set lead in double-digits, 25-14.
The Lady Tams had a better showing in the following set, but still played catch-up ball. Down 18-14, FEU fought from behind and forced a deuce at 24-all. Both squads then traded points, but Ateneo scored twice off an error and an attack by Ana Gopico from 26-all to go up by two sets, 28-26.
The Lady Eagles’ pacing slowed down midway into the third and final set, but still possessed the upper hand all along. Their 16-10 lead evaporated and became a deadlock at 22. FEU had clear chances to send it to a fourth set, but Ateneo scored three straight off attacks and a block to seal the deal, 25-22, and the match.
Heather Guino-o led FEU with 11 points from 7 attacks, while Toni Basas supplied 10 in the loss.
“Well medyo may factor talaga,” said Morente regarding tonight’s victory, in which they played a Pons-less FEU. “Sana yung game na ‘to i-boost yung confidence namin na though wala si Pons, kaya namin.”
Game 2 of this series will be on Wednesday, September 7, 6:00PM, still at the Philsports Arena.
The  Scores:
ADMU (3) – Morente 13, De Leon 13, Gequillana 12, Gopico 11, Gaston 3, Morado 3, Samonte 1, Tan 0, Lo (L), Lavitoria (L).
FEU (0) – Guino-o 11, Basas 10, Palma 7, Cayuna 5, Negrito 2, Domingo 2, Malabanan 2, Hernandez 0, Villareal 0, Duremdes (L), Atienza (L).
