Lady Eagles turn back Maroons, stay unbeaten

Games today

12:45 p.m. – FEU vs St. Benilde

3 p.m. – UST vs Arellano

MANILA, Philippines - Alyssa Valdez took charge in the fourth set as Ateneo subdued University of the Philippines, 25-18, 26-24, 20-25, 25-15, yesterday to keep its win run going in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan.

The power-hitting Valdez scored the Lady Eagles’ last four points in the fourth, three on vicious attacks and the last on a tip that sealed the reigning UAAP champions’ sixth straight win from the group stages of the league presented by PLDT Home Ultera.

The high-flying talented Ateneo player struggled earlier with errant hits into the net, but recovered in time, combining with Jhoanna Maraguinot to anchor Ateneo’s attack that finished off the Lady Maroons.

It was a sorry setback for the Lady Maroons, who put up a good fight, forcing a tight, extended second set duel then stunning the Lady Eagles with a brilliant third set performance.

But they failed to match the Lady Eagles’ hot 8-5 start in the fourth and spent the rest of the match chasing the unbeaten team to no avail.

Valdez wound up with 29 hits, including 25 on attacks, while Maraguinot dished off a solid 24-hit game that earned her the best player honors.

UP dropped to 0-4.

Earlier, National U crushed La Salle-Dasmariñas with a power game, posting a relatively easy 25-17, 25-19, 25-17 victory to bolster its semifinal bid.

Carrying over a 2-1 card from the elims, NU broke off a four-way tie with FEU, Arellano and UST to wrest solo second behind Ateneo.

Meanwhile, FEU tries to tie NU at second as it plays St. Benilde at resumption of quarters action today.

The Lady Tams and the Lady Blazers clash at 12:45 p.m. to  be aired live on GMA News TV Channel 11.

UST and Arellano also dispute a share of second in their 3 p.m. encounter.

No Lady Bulldog churned out double-digit output but the nine hits each by former stalwart and guest player Dindin Santiago-Manabat and younger sister Jaja Santiago and Myla Pablo proved enough to carry the Lady Bulldogs to the straight-set victory.

The Lady Bulldogs pounced on the Lady Patriots’ shaky net defense and reception, scoring 38 spikes against their rivals’ 21 with Ivy Perez accounting for 14 of NU’s excellent sets.

Skipper Jorelle Singh added eight points while Aiko Urdas, Marites Pablo, Jasmine Nabor, Rica Diolan and Perez combined for 10 points for NU.

The Lady Bulldogs just sized up their Cavite-based rivals in the early going before the Santiago sisters, Pablo and Urdas stamped their class midway through.

La Salle-Dasma actually rallied to within three, 19-22, in the second set but Pablo rammed in a kill and the Lady Patriots committed a miscue while trying to set up a combination play, enabling the NU to go 2-0.

It was more of the same in the third with the Lady Bulldogs reasserting their might and handing the Lady Patriots their third loss against a win.