MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo de Manila University forged a winner-take-all match after surviving the four-peat seeking De La Salle University in a thrilling five set match, 25-21, 25-23, 18-25, 16-25, 17-15, in the UAAP Women’s Volleyball Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wendesday.
The Lady Eagles climbed from a 8-12 deficit in the final set before tying the match at 15-all with a kill from the reigning Most Valuable Player Alyssa Valdez.
Rookie Michelle Morente put the Katipunan-based squad on matchpoint before Lady Archers committed a regretful error that extended the series in a win-or-go-home game on Saturday.
La Salle had the chance to seal its fourth-straight championship with a Mika Reyes denial, 15-14, but the Taft-based squad failed to capitalize on the other end.
Ateneo took the first two sets, but La Salle showed its championship form in the third and fourth to force a deciding set.