Drawing signature performances from their veterans, the De La Salle Lady Spikers routed the up-and-coming Lady Maroons, 25-16, 25-20, 25-21 at the San Juan Arena.
DLSU managed to end an alarming trend of slow starts as they poured it on UP right from the start of the match and claimed the first set with impeccable floor and net defense.
The Lady Spikers however, let UP creep in early in the last two sets. Spearheaded by team captain Nicole Tiamzon, the Lady Maroons kept at pace with the three-time champs, managing to tie the score in the middle of both sets.
La Salle’s veteran trio of captain Ara Galang, Mika Reyes, and Cyd Demecillo dug their team out of the ditch late in the sets, stomping on the Lady Maroons when the scores reached the twenties.
Galang led all scorers with 20 points off 16 spikes, 3 blocks, and an ace, her third 20-point performance of the season. Her beach volleyball teammate Demecillo pitched in 10 points while middle blocker Mika Reyes came up with 9 points including 3 blocks.
Tiamzon led the Lady Maroons in scoring with 17 points, off 15 spikes and 2 aces while Makati Science Alum Kathy Bersola contributed 10 points with a game-high 4 blocks.
The scores:
DLSU – Galang 20, Demecillo 10, Reyes 9, Fajardo 5, Cheng 4, Soyud 3, Dy 1, Baron 1, Macandili (L) 0
UP – Tiamzon 17, Bersola 10, Araneta 7, Ilustre 2, Ong 2, Alinas 0, Lai 0, Magtalas 0, Sandoval 0, Estranero (L) 0.
