Therese Manalo and Nicole Ong led Mapua University to overcome a four-set affair against Jose Rizal University, 25-23, 27-25, 21-25, 25-23, in the NCAA Season 98 Women’s Volleyball Tournament on Wednesday at the San Andres Sports Complex.
Manalo notched 21 points on 15 attacks, five service aces, and one block including 10 excellent digs. Ong produced 18 points built on 13 attacks, three blocks, and one service ace.
Mapua head coach Clarence Esteban was happy with the win on not being a five-set. He felt that his team would have been exhausted if the game went longer.
“Syempre masaya kami, sana nga nakuha namin ‘yung third set at lagi na rin naming ini-instil sa utak namin na tigilan na natin ‘yung five sets kasi sunod-sunod ‘yung games, napapagod kami, and nauubos kami nang nauubos,” he said.
“Sabi ko sa kanila, dapat hangga’t pwede nating agahan ‘yung tapos, agahan natin para mahaba din ‘yung rest natin,” he added.
After losing the third set, the Lady Cardinals figured themselves in a tight 24-23 situation in the fourth set. However, thanks to Manalo’s attack down the line, they delivered the last blow for JRU.
The match ended in two hours and 10 minutes.
Roxie Dela Cruz and Hannah De Guzman contributed 13 points each for the Lady Cardinals.
Meanwhile, Riza Rose led the Lady Bombers with 23 points on 20 attacks and two blocks, while Karyla Rafaela, Sydney Niegos, and Mary Ruiz scored 15, 13, and 11 points, respectively, in that order.
In the other game, Arellano University quickly handled Lyceum of the Philippines University, 26-24, 25-16, 25-16.
In a match that ended in an hour and 31 minutes, the Lady Chiefs bounced back after a heartbreaking loss against University of Perpetual Help System DALTA last Saturday.
Arellano’s head coach Obet Javier admitted that their loss against Perpetual helped them to train hard in the past three days. He is now satisfied with the bounce-back win.
“Siyempre, masayang-masaya ako kasi ‘yung pinagusapan namin ‘yung practice namin kahapon nag bunga, kumbaga ‘yung in-ensayo kitang kita ‘yung result kanina sa game. Buti na lang ‘yung first set na-overcome namin ‘yun,” said Javier.
“Kung hindi namin siguro nakuha ‘yung first set, baka iba siguro naging nangyari. Pero, nagpapasalamat ako sa team ko kasi talagang nakinig sila, at naintindihan nila kung ano ‘yung mga pinag-aralan namin,” he added.
After Arellano overcame a tight first set, they managed to handle it quickly in the third set, breaking away in a 13-12 to turn it into a 24-16 set point capped by Trina Abay’s attack down the line.
Abay scored 11 points, including six solid blocks, while Marianne Padillon got 12 points on four blocks. Laika Tudlasan notched 11 points built on 10 attacks, Janice Manuntag chipped in 10 excellent digs and eight excellent receptions, while Sophia Quitaleg chimed in 16 excellent digs.
On the other side, Joan Doguna’s 13 points built on 12 attacks went for naught for Lyceum, while Venice Puzon contributed 10 excellent sets, six excellent digs, and two service aces.
Mapua, Arellano, and Lyceum now have both 3-1 win-loss records and are tied for the third spot. JRU is still winless in four games.
