Valdez lifts Ateneo over UST in do-or-die V-League semis

Game Saturday:

(The Arena, San Juan)

12:45 p.m. – UST vs FEU (Battle for 3rd)

Game Sunday

(The Arena, San Juan)

12:45 p.m. – Ateneo vs NU (Finals)

MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo leaned on Alyssa Valdez and its impenetrable net defense as it overpowered University of Santo Tomas, 25-18, 25-18, 25-19, in their sudden death match on Wednesday to arrange a title showdown with National U in the Shakey's V-League Season 12-Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.

The power-hitting Valdez drilled her way to a match-high 19 hits including 16 on kills and the Lady Eagles shut down the UST's hitters as they wrap up the series, 2-1, to set up a much-awaited best-of-three title duel with the Lady Bulldogs starting on Sunday.

Laure, who unleashed a match-best 17 kills in the Tigresses' shock 18-25, 25-16, 25-23, 25-22 win in Sunday's Game Two to force the decider, couldn't find her rhythm and was held to just nine on this one, no thanks to the Lady Eagles' defense that was centered mostly on the incoming UAAP sophomore.

Ateneo won the opener, 27-25, 25-16, 25-17, Saturday.

"Coach Tai (Bundit) actually designed plays for each players not just her (Laure), good thing it worked," said Ateneo skipper Valdez.

Ateneo thus forged a highly anticipated showdown with NU, which swept Far Eastern U in two games to clinch the first finals slot.

Game Two is on Sept. 27 while a deciding Game Three, if necessary, is on Oct. 4.

UST went into the game oozing with confidence after it pulled the rug from under Ateneo and spoiled what could have been a potential sweep for the Loyola-based lady spikers.

But Ateneo didn't leave anything to chance and dictated the pace early by silencing Laure and allowing Valdez to go on attack mode.

It was all Ateneo from there.

Bea de Leon scattered nine hits, five of it came on blocks.

De Leon also spent most of her energy neutralizing Laure, a former teammate of hers in the national team that played in the Asian Under-23 Championship the country hosted at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City last May.

The Tigresses though could console themselves with a third place finish if they could hurdle the Lady Tams in another best-of-three series.

If not, they could go home with their heads high knowing they've done what other teams couldn't accomplish--beat Ateneo.