Coming off a morale-boosting curtain-raiser last week, the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles tore apart the San Sebastian College–Recoletos Lady Stags in straight-set fashion, 25-17, 25-17, 25-8, in the 2019 PVL Collegiate Conference, Saturday.
“Everything is a learning process pa rin…We really have to maximize our players para mas lumalim ang cohesiveness namin,” said Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro.
Prized rookie Faith Nisperos top-scored with 15 points built on 11 attacks and four service aces for Ateneo, which improved to a 2-0 card.
Ponggay Gaston, who was not with Ateneo in the conference opener due to an illness, made her presence felt in her first game in the off-season tourney. She supplied 10 points, all but one coming from attacks.
“We know naman na our team is basically young, mostly are sophomores and freshmen so kailangan naming magkaroon talaga ng tiwala sa isa’t isa,” he added.
Jaja Maraguinot paced the Lady Eagles with 20 excellent sets on top of seven markers — spiked by four aces.
Erika Raagas chipped six points while Joan Narit and Jules Samonte added five markers each.
The Lady Eagles went on an offensive onslaught at the expense of the Lady Stags. The former outperformed the latter in every scoring category, posting a 35-13 differential in attacks, 5-3 in blocks, and 11-4 in service aces.
No Lady Stag graced twin-digit territory.
Sherielyn Bigata managed five points, including two blocks. Mary Dapol added four markers for the Lady Stags, who dropped to 0-2.
Ateneo will look to make it three in a row when it faces San Beda on Saturday while San Sebastian takes on Adamson on Sunday. Both matches will be played at the FilOil Arena.
