Ateneo, DLSU clash in duel of unbeaten teams

Games today (MOA Arena)

2 p.m. – NU vs AdU

4 p.m. – AdMU vs DLSU

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Ateneo warmed up for its much-awaited showdown with rival La Salle with an emphatic 25-7, 25-17, 25-8 romp over lightweight University of the East yesterday in the UAAP Season 77 women’s volleyball tourney at the Arena.

The Lady Eagles imposed their will on the hapless Lady Warriors from the opening set, spiking with merciless impunity en route to chalking up their sixth straight win in one hour and five minutes.

It was a morale-boosting triumph for Ateneo as it braces for today’s dogfight with fellow unbeaten La Salle before an expected big crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“We’re preparing for every game and we’re really working hard. Hopefully, maganda rin bukas (things will click again today against La Salle),” said AdMU skipper Alysa Valdez, who dropped 23 points on UE (0-7).

The Lady Eagles showed up a lot sharper than the crew that came out of the Christmas break struggling in a five-set win over University of the Philippines last Sunday.

Showing more focus, the Ateneans raced ahead to 20-5 in the opening frame to set the tone for the rout. The Lady Warriors gave a semblance of a fight in the second, keeping close at 9-12 before the titleholders broke away again.

“Last time (against UP), wala kami sa focus (we were out of focus). Now we really feel we’re back in (the thick of action) in the UAAP,” said Valdez.

Ateneo had 46 hits overall against UE’s nine, with Valdez doubling the Lady Warriors’ output with 19 spikes. AdMU also had 11 aces versus UE’s one.

Amy Ahomiro and Michelle Morente backstopped Valdez with 10 apiece.

Bien Elaine Juanillo paced UE with five markers.

University of Santo Tomas ended a five-game slump with a 21-25, 27-25, 25-16, 25-23 victory over Far Eastern U for a 2-5 card after the first round, moving just one game behind the 3-4 cards of the Lady Tams and UP.

Pam Lastimosa topscored with 17 points while rookie Cherry Rondina chipped in a career-high 16 to offset the five-point output of fellow freshman EJ Laure as the Tigresses clawed back from a one-set deficit and ground out their first win since their opening-day victory over UE last Nov. 22.

“They’re’ starting to become a team now, di na yung iba-iba kilos (unlike before when they’re not playing as one),” said UST coach Odjie Mamon, whose wards showed vast improvement coming off the Christmas break as they stretched National U to the limit last Wednesday. “Mas focused sila ngayon (they’re more focused now) unlike (in the) previous games where we had forgettable performances. I think we’re getting there to being competitive.”

UST dominated play in attack with 59, 18 more than FEU’s tally and had five more points off blocks with 12.

Toni Rose Basas led the way for the Lady Tams with 13.