Maroons stall Archers, 2 others
UNIVERSITY of the Philippines stalled La Salle and two other teams trying to secure Final Four slots before the Holy Week break with a 26-24, 18-25, 19-25, 25-22, 16-14 win at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
The Fighting Maroons toppled another preseason contender in the Lady Spikers, as Joan Monares scored 16 points, including the match winner that kept the Diliman-based squad’s hopes of reaching the Final Four via the backdoor.
Earlier, Alyssa Solomon, making up for lost time after missing the last two matches due to a minor left ankle sprain, shone in her return as defending champion National University dispatched Ateneo, 25-16, 25-15, 25-21, to clinch a twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four.
UP, seeking to make it to the Final Four for the first time since 2016, improved to 6-6, two games behind La Salle and University of Santo Tomas, which are tied in second at 8-4,
and is just trailing Far Eastern University (8-5) by one-and-a-half.
The Tigresses and the Lady Tamaraws were hoping for a Lady Spikers win over the Fighting Maroons to complete the Final Four.
Coach Benson Bocboc, Ramil de Jesus’ long-time assistant with La Salle before moving to UP, was amazed with the fight showed by his troops as they stare at elimination.
“Maganda yung nagawa. May mga parts na nawawala sa plano, so medyo napapasigaw tayo doon, pero bumabalik naman. Simple lang naman yung laro ‘eh, susunod lang naman sa game plan, and I think, magco-connect lahat doon. Roller coaster na naman, pero good thing na nagwork sila in crucial times yung mga ine-expect na gagawa,” said Bocboc, as the Fighting Maroons ended a seven-match losing streak to Lady Spikers.
Kassie Doering had three blocks for a 15-point outing while Kianne Olango added 14 points, including three service aces for UP.
Shevana Laput had a career-high 27 points on 20-of-59 kills, four blocks and three aces, and nine digs while Angel Canino added 25 points, including two blocks for La Salle.
The Lady Bulldogs imposed their will in the early goings, as Solomon scored seven of her 12 points in the first set and collected four digs.
“Super excited ako na makasama sila ulit, lalo na kanina sa game. Pinakita lang namin kung ano yung pinagttrainingan namin over sa mga nakaraang araw. Very happy na nakabalik ako,” Solomon said.
Reigning MVP Bella Belen had a solid all-around output of 16 points on 12-of-24 killls, two blocks, and two aces with 13 receptions and 10 digs, while Lams Lamina tossed in 13 excellent sets for NU.
Not only the Lady Bulldogs (11-2) locked up one of the two coveted twice-to-beat slots in the Final Four but also assuring themselves of the No. 1 ranking at the end of the double-round eliminations.
The win also gave NU the needed momentum heading into their Season 86 Finals rematch against UST on April 27, at the Big Dome to wrap up the elims.
“Napakahalaga na naghhelp yung team, lalo na pa-semis na, so ‘yon yung pinakaimportante kasi syempre, mahihirap na yung mga games. Happy kami and thankful na magiging okay yung takbo namin sa remaining games,” Lady Bulldogs coach Sherwin Meneses said.
Erin Pangilinan was the other NU player in double digits with 11 points, including three blocks.
The Blue Eagles, who will miss the Final Four for a third consecutive season, have lost four in a row and fell to 4-9 overall.
In the men’s division, five-peat seeking NU secured the remaining twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four with a gutsy 30-28, 25-23, 25-16 triumph over Ateneo.
Thanks to the collective efforts of team captain Leo Aringo and the spark provided by Jan Abanilla, the Bulldogs claimed a crucial Final Four advantage, tallying their fifth straight win and the 11th overall in 13 matches.
NU also gave UST, its Finals opponent in the last two seasons, a free ride to the Final Four.
“Bago kami pumunta talaga rito, minindset namin na kailangan namin itong game na ito kasi ito yung magiging advantage pagdating ng Final Four. Sa pinakita ng players ko na kahit sinong ipasok, nagdeliver sila at sobrang thankful ako sa naging performance kasi sa situation na ito na anytime, kahit sino yung hugutin ko, magpperform,” Bulldogs coach Dante Alinsunurin said.
La Salle later completed the Final Four cast, as it recovered from a lackluster first set and overcame a tough UP stand to pull off a 11-25, 25-18, 25-21, 28-30, 15-9 win.
The Green Spikers moved in a tie with the Green Spikers in third and fourth spots at 8-4, while the Blue Eagles absorbed their seventh loss in 13 matches to bow out of contention.
Buds Buddin came through with 15 points, including three blocks, and two service aces, eight receptions and seven digs, while Aringo added 12 points, seven digs and six receptions for NU. Abanilla, in his first start this season, finished with 11 points and seven digs.
Noel Kampton finished with 24 points, 15 receptions and five digs, while Rui Ventura chipped in 16 points, including two blocks and five digs as La Salle will make it to the Final Four for a third straight season.
Games April 23
(Mall of Asia Arena)
9 a.m. – UST vs UP (Men)
11 a.m. – DLSU vs AdU (Men)
1 p.m. – UST vs UP (Women)
3 p.m. – DLSU vs AdU (Women)
