By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
Defending champion National University-Nazareth School exacted revenge on its first round tormentor Far Eastern University-Diliman and posted a 25-20, 29-27, 25-21 victory to begin its second round campaign of the UAAP Season 86 High School Girls’ Volleyball Tournament on a high note at the Adamson University Gym, Manila on Sunday.
Avenging their five-set loss to the Baby Tamaraws in the first round, the Bullpups improved their record to 4-3 to remain in the top four.
The victory also allowed NUNS to gain a share of third place with University of Santo Tomas.
“Sobrang masaya kami kasi ‘yung performance namin during the first round talaga is really bad. ‘Yung first round talaga, more on finding ‘yung right ingredient kung sino talaga ‘yung first six namin. So parang na-finalize lang namin siya noong last two games namin,” said Lady Bullpups head coach Norman Miguel.
“Ang goal talaga namin is siyempre, we wanted really to get back the title so talagang kailangan naming isa-isahin talaga ipanalo. So at least, thankful, happy na nag-translate siya ngayon, nanalo kami. Pero ang dami pang kailangang trabahuhin.”
The Lady Baby Tamaraws established a five-point lead to begin the third set, scoring four unanswered points capped off by back-to-back service aces from Clarisse Loresco. The Lady Bullpups, however, went on a five-point run of their own to tie things up at eight.
Powered by reigning MVP Kianne Olango’s strong offensive display, NUNS was able to pull away late in the set and increased the deficit to five points. FEU-D struggled to complete a comeback as a service error from Pat Arciaga sent NUNS to match point.
An attack from Love Lopez saved the Lady Baby Tamaraws a point before a tip from Season 85 2nd Best Outside Spiker Celine Marsh ended the match, 25-21.
Despite its second loss in seven matches, FEU-D continues to occupy second place.
Adamson University remains on top of the standings with a perfect 7-0 slate.
Meanwhile, in the boys’ tournament, NUNS completed an elimination round sweep of Adamson after defeating them in straight sets, 25-22, 25-22, 25-22.
The final frame was a closely contested battle with neither team able to push their lead to over three points until late in the set. NU was able to pull ahead, 22-17, after going on a three-point run off an attack by Yuan Mendoza, a block point from Miguel Egger, and an attack error from John Guevarra.
An attack from Egger set the Bullpups up at match point until a Yuan Samson attack and a block point from both Alfred Florita and Dwight Tabon trimmed the deficit to three. Charles Panesa delivered the final blow to give NUNS the win, 25-22.
The Bullpups, who are now on a five-game win streak, remain in second place with a 7-1 record.
Undefeated in eight matches, University of the East remains on top of the eight-team field.
Adamson dropped to 4-4 and now stands at joint fifth with UST.
DLSZ, on the other hand, won its second game in a row after sweeping Ateneo, 25-17, 25-20, 25-10.
After a close second set, DLSZ got off to a strong start and grabbed a 15-7 lead to open the third frame. Capitalizing on the Blue Eagles’ errors, the Junior Spikers mounted a 6-0 run to widen the deficit to 14.
DLSZ scored the last four points of the match, including two attack errors from Ateneo, and the service ace from Alessandro Baligod that secured them the victory, 25-10.
The Junior Spikers, who came off a win over the Fighting Maroons three weeks ago, are placed sixth with a 3-5 standing.
Ateneo, who are still in pursuit of their first victory, is at eighth with a 0-8 card.
