Faith Nisperos steered Ateneo de Manila University to a four-set win over fellow UAAP school Far Eastern University, 25-20, 21-25, 25-21, 25-19, for its second consecutive victory in Pool A of the 2022 V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge at the Paco Arena, Wednesday night.
Nisperos unloaded a match-high 24 points on 22 attacks and two aces to go along with 14 digs while Vanie Gandler scored 13 points and collected 13 excellent receptions to power the Blue Eagles to a 2-0 start in the tourney.
Roma Doromal gathered 22 excellent receptions and 20 excellent sets in just four sets of action for Ateneo.
“We really have to fine tune many things pa,” said Blue Eagles head coach Oliver Almadro. “Matagal pa naman ang UAAP, good thing may mga tournaments na ganito and I really have to… isabak yung mga players ko kasi alam niyo naman, unexpectedly nag-pro yung mga players ko na key players sa akin.”
Ateneo led by as much as seven points, 24-17, in the fourth set after a miscommunication from the Lady Tamaraws but managed to save two match points after Julianne Monares and Miltzi Panganin converted from the attack and service lines, respectively. Nisperos then ended the match with a kill.
Chen Tagaod poured 21 points built on 18 attacks, two aces, and a kill block. She also had 11 receptions and nine digs in a losing effort for the 0-2 FEU.
Ateneo will take on Adamson University on Friday, 3:00 PM for the top seed in Pool A while FEU looks to bounce back against San Sebastian College-Recoletos earlier that day at 10:00 AM.
