LA SALLE made it four wins in a row after sweeping Far Eastern University, 25-17, 25-20, 25-22, last night in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Looking sharp despite having a short turnaround from their recent match, the Lady Spikers drew another solid outing from their 1-2 punch of Shevana Laput and Angel Canino to close out the first round at 5-2.

Defending champion National University (6-0) and University of Santo Tomas (5-1) clash in a rematch of last season’s Finals at 5 p.m. today at the Big Dome.

The loss ended the Lady Tamaraws’ three-match winning streak as they dropped to fourth place with a 4-3 card.

Earlier, Ateneo capped a challenging first round with a 20-25, 25-16, 22-25, 25-15, 15-13 victory over University of the East.

Laput followed up her career outing of 25 points against the Blue Eagles by scoring 22 points on 18-of-39 kills, three blocks and an ace, while Canino added 10 kills, eight receptions and seven digs.

“Despite the short turnover, our team just really wanted to work hard and end this round on a high note, which I think we have done, so that we can continue this energy and effort going into Round 2,” Laput said.

Alleiah Malaluan was the other La Salle player in double digits with 10 points, including four service aces, and collected eight digs.

“Happy ako kasi kahit hindi kami halos nakapagpahinga and then halos wala kami time para magaral para sa FEU, at least doon sa short time na ‘yon, nagawa nila yung mga pinagaralan namin at nakasunod sila doon sa game plan. Yung focus nila, nandoon pa rin hanggang sa matapos yung game,” Lady Spikers coach Ramil de Jesus said.

No Lady Tamaraws logged double digits in scoring.

Ateneo, which lost JLo delos Santos, Zel Tsunashima and Sobe Buena to injuries, matched last season’s 2-5 record and snapped a three-match losing skid.

“From this point on, the most important thing is that they continue to play on a high level all the time… I’m so proud because they understand that they have to push through,” coach Sergio Veloso said.

Lyann de Guzman, who had 17 points, 14 receptions and 10 digs, delivered the match winner for the Blue Eagles after the Lady Warriors saved four match points.

“I’m very happy sa pinakita ng team. Admittingly, nagstruggle kami in the game, pero sabi ko sa kanila hindi kami sumabay sa UE kasi we have our own pacing and we know kung paano kami maglaro inside the court. Kailangan natin maging aggresive, may energy, at to have fun palagi,” said De Guzman.

AC Miner led Ateneo with 23 points on 20-of-42 kills, three blocks and seven digs while Zey Pacia fired three service aces for a 17-point outing that went along with 14 digs and 10 receptions.

Van Bangayan hammered 24 kills as Khy Cepada, the Lady Warriors topscorer, struggled with 10 points on 8-of-57 kills and was well scouted by the Blue Eagles.

In the men’s division, FEU downed La Salle, 22-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-19 to complete a seven-match sweep of the first round.

The Tamaraws’ “gold is the goal” battlecry has served as an inspiration for last season’s third placers.

“Wala lang titigil dapat sa ginagawa namin. Kung ano ‘yung nasimulan namin, hanggang dulo masustain namin ‘yung gusto naming mangyari sa second round,” said coach Eddieson Orcullo after FEU opened the season at 7-0 for the first time since 2019.

Ateneo made swift work of undermanned UE, 25-21, 25-19, 25-16, for a 4-3 card. The Blue Eagles moved in a tie with the Green Spikers in fourth place at 4-3.

Mikko Espartero finished with 27 points on 21-of-41 spikes, five aces, and a block along with seven receptions while Dryx Saavedra chipped in 17 points for the Tamaraws.

Enzo Gutierrez, a second-year setter out of Las Vegas, steered Ateneo with 18 excellent sets. Ken Batas, the league-leader in scoring, unleashed a match-high 15 points on 11-of-21 attacks, two service aces, and two blocks that went along with 14 receptions and six digs.

“Sinasabi ko lang lagi sa kanila na may particular player talaga na mas makakarami ng puntos or like ngayong game, balanced nga kami. Itong stats wala naman sa akin as long as ‘yung collective effort namin present,” said Vince Mangulabnan, who is in his first year of coaching Ateneo.

The Warriors’ women and men teams failed to log a win in the first round.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Theodore P. Jurado