Lady Eagles survive Falcons, near volley semis

MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo recovered from 1-2 set down and a 15-22 deficit in the fourth set then saved to matchpoints to hack out a 24-26, 25-19, 21-25, 26-24, 15-12 decision over Adamson U and assure itself of at least a playoff for a semifinal berth in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Jhoanna Maraguinot regained her rhythm just in time and spearheaded the Lady Eagles’ stirring fightback that netted them their eighth victory against three defeats to stay behind first semifinalist and defending champion the La Salle Spikers (9-2).

The Lady Falcons looked headed to capping the day of the underdogs after winning two of the first three sets and storming to a 22-15 lead in the fourth on a Jemma Galanza spike.

But the Lady Eagles refused to give up and rallied by taking seven of the next nine points to pull within at 22-24. Maraguinot scored on the next play to cut the lead to one and the Loyola-based squad forced a deuce after game officials nullified a Galanza push that would have clinched the match for Adamson, calling a crossing violation instead on the top AdU hitter.

Ateneo cashed in on the break and took the next two on an Adamson miscue and a block on Galanza to force the decider.

The Lady Eagles raced to a 7-2 lead in the fifth but the Lady Falcons, behind the power-hitting Galanza, struck back and forced a 12-all count before the former took the last three points to complete their come-from-behind victory, including a Maraguinot power hit and a block off AdU’s Mylene Paat.

The Lady Falcons stayed at fifth at 5-6.

Earlier, University of Santo Tomas battled back from a set down to dispose of a faltering National U side, 22-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-9, and keep its flickering semis hopes alive.

Sisi Rondina and Fil-Italian Milena Alessandrini delivered 25 and 19 points, respectively, for the Tigresses, who bucked Jaja Santiago’s match-best 27-hit effort to wheel back into semis contention with a 4-7 (win-loss) card.

Though it remained at sixth, UST stayed in the hunt for a possible playoff for the last semis slot with NU tumbling to its fifth straight defeat for a 6-5 slate at fourth.

But the España-based squad will need to sweep its last three elims games and hope either NU or AdU won’t go over seven wins to force a playoff.

UST plays Ateneo on April 4, faces first semifinalist and defending champion La Salle on April 8 before closing out its campaign against Adamson on April 14.

“We regained some measure of respect for ourselves,” said UST coach Kungfu Reyes.

After an impressive start in the first round elims (6-0), the Lady Bulldogs continued to flounder in the stretch in an alarming slide for one of the fancied teams in the fold.

Overpowered by Santiago early on, Rondina and Alessandrini took charge to carry UST back into the match.

Rondina blasted away with 22 kills while Alessandrini hammered in 11 spikes and added five blocks and three service aces to help the Tigresses sweep the next three sets, including the fourth in convincing fashion.

In men’s play, UST downed La Salle, 25-22, 25-20, 14-25, 25-21, and Adamson shocked National U, 25-23, 25-19, 25-16, to stay in the Final Four hunt.

The Tigers and the Falcons remained tied at fourth with 5-6 marks.

The Bulldogs, on the other hand, slipped to joint lead with reigning titlist Ateneo and Far Eastern U at 9-2.