La Salle overcomes rocky start, sweeps Ateneo in Game 1

Games on Wednesday (MOA Arena):

11:30 a.m. – Individual awards men’s

12 noon – NU vs AdMU (men’s finals Game 2)

3:30 p.m. – Individual awards women’s

4 p.m. – DLSU vs AdMU (women’s finals Game 2)

MANILA, Philippines – La Salle started out flat but came to life and bulldozed its way past Ateneo, 25-22, 25-22, 25-21, to put one hand into the coveted UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball crown its rival is hard-pressed to keep Saturday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Lady Spikers didn’t waver despite surrendering five consecutive points at the onset of action and playing catch-up most of the way, using a virtually impenetrable net defense to keep the Lady Eagles grounded and take the headstart in the best-of-three finals witnessed by 19,961 fans.

“Siguro mas relaxed ang mga bata kanina. Kahit down kami nung first set, early timeout ako, 4-0 lead sila. Alam ko babalik yung composure ng mga bata (The girls played relaxed and loose. Even if we went behind early, I was confident they will regain their compsoure),” said DLSU coach Ramil de Jesus.

The Lady Spikers’ vaunted blocking party came to fore in the series opener. Overall, the La Sallians extracted 13 block points against Ateneo’s two, with Mika Reyes posting six of her 13 markers off denials and Majoy Baron contributing three in the department.

“Matagal naming prinactice yun, at least nag-work (We practiced hard on our blocking and it worked in this game),” said de Jesus.

DLSU had six blocks in the first set, where it finally overtook Ateneo at 16-14 and went all the way. The La Sallians trailed 18-21 in the second frame but they turned the tide behind the hits of Kim Dy ad Ara Galang and eventually sealed it with back-to-back blocks.

Ateneo took early command in the third again, 7-3, before DLSU strung up six straight points anchored on Cyd Demecillo to regain control and never looked back.

Dy took scoring honors for DLSU with 15, making the most damage on shots from the wings. Reyes finished with 13 while Galang and Baron chipped in 10 apiece and Kim Fajardo had 39 excellent sets.

La Salle held AdMU to 37 attacks while scoring 41 points on its end.

Valdez paced Ateneo with 17.

“I guess La Salle really prepared for us super well today. And they sustained it the entire game,” said Valdez. “Even if we’re ahead at the start, they tried hard to catch up and they really want to win the game.

DLSU will try to dethrone the three-peat-seeking Ateneo on Wednesday and win its first crown since Season 75.