Mapua University survived a comeback scare from Emilio Aguinaldo College in the fourth set, winning 14-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-23 in the NCAA Season 98 Women’s Seniors Volleyball Tournament on Saturday at San Andres Sports Complex. The Lady Cardinals are now in solo third place with a 5-2 win-loss record, while the Lady Generals dropped to a 1-5 record, tying with San Beda University.
Mapua head coach Clarence Esteban admitted that they did not follow their intended game plan, which resulted in their loss of the first set.
Still, he felt satisfied in the last minutes of the game with the players adjusting to the plan.
“Medyo [nagkamali] kami kasi ‘yung game plan namin na pinractice namin, parang hindi namin nakuha ngayon. Pero at least nung bandang huli, naga-adjust na onti-onti,” said Esteban after the game that lasted an hour and 53 minutes. “So, ‘yung ginawa namin training nung nakaraan, hindi namin medyo nai-apply masyado [sa game ngayon],” he continued.
After losing the first set, the Lady Cardinals managed to handle the last three sets. In the fourth set, leading by two, 21-23, EAC cut the deficit to one after Princes Babiera failed to receive the attack of Krizzia Reyes.
Roxie Dela Cruz’s attack went outside, tying the game at 23-all. However, Dela Cruz atoned for her error, delivering back-to-back kills for the match to finish immediately.
Grace Cabadin and Therese Manalo scored 16 points each, with the former making 13 attacks and two aces for the Lady Cardinals. Trixie Gojol and Dela Cruz produced 10 points each, with Gojol adding 15 excellent sets.
Dela Cruz contributed six excellent digs and nine excellent receptions. Vanessa Basas chimed in with 11 excellent digs and 12 excellent receptions.
Meanwhile, Reyes led the Lady Generals with a game-high 20 points on 18 attacks, while Jamaica Villena had 12 points on 10 attacks and an ace. Monna Bañares added 20 excellent digs and 11 excellent receptions, and Anne Formento chipped in 13 excellent sets.
In an earlier game, San Sebastian College Recoletos withstood Jose Rizal University in a five-set thriller, winning 17-25, 28-26, 14-25, 25-16, 15-9.
KJ Dionisio scored a career-high 27 points on 26 attacks, alongside seven excellent digs, to lead the Lady Stags.
In a match that lasted an hour and 58 minutes, head coach Roger Gorayeb said that the team should have won since the beginning of the season.
In his 36 years of coaching, this was the first time he experienced an almost-winless record. Still, Gorayeb believes his players can fight until the end.
“Alam mo, sabi ko nga sa kanila, we should have done this a long time ago, hindi ‘yung ganito na lang naglalaro kami. To maintain our pride, kasi biruin mo 0-6, hindi ko naman na-experience. Sabi ko, sa 36 years ko sa pagko-coach, hindi ko na-experience yan,” said the head tactician.
“’Yan ang hirap kasi sobrang bata. Just imagine sampu lang player ko, dalawang libero. Edi sa dun natitira apat pa ‘yung freshmen, well ilan na lang natitira. Apat na lang ‘yung may experience last year,” he added.
“Diba second year ‘yung ma-mamalo ko, pero you cannot make it an excuse eh – may laro naman sila. Pinapabayaan lang nila, siguro natuto na sila sa mga mali nila dati, yang hirap eh mga bata [pa].”
After both teams exchanged sets, the Lady Stags started out strong in the fifth set, blasting a 7-2 run capped by Kath Santos’ down-the-line kill.
However, the Lady Bombers fought to within a solitary point, 7-8, after an attack error from Santos. Unfortunately, though, that was the nearest they could get.
San Sebastian turned an 8-7 lead into a 14-9 match point following an error committed by Lyn Laurente. Jassy Lumibao then sealed the win by blocking Riza Rose’s attack.
Tina Marasigan registered 24 points on 20 attacks and three aces. Santos and Kamille Tan added 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Jewelle Bermillo had 19 excellent digs and 13 excellent receptions. Vea Sison contributed 17 excellent sets and two aces.
On the other hand, Rose and May Ruiz led JRU with 21 points each, with the former on 17 attacks and three aces, while the latter was on 19 attacks, two aces, alongside five excellent receptions.
Sydney Niegos put up 19 points on four blocks with three excellent digs.
