Janeth Tulang of Lyceum Lady Pirates diverted the ball on the defensive wall of Razel Aldea and Mary Rhose Dapol of Perpetual Lady Altas in the NCAA Season 97 at Paco Arena. The Lady Pirates won 25-23, 25-19, 25-16.
Photo by Dennis Abrina
JRU to test mettle of EAC
JOSE Rizal University seeks to force a three-way tie for the lead as it tangles with Emilio Aguinaldo College at 12 noon today in the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament at the Paco Arena.
As skipper Dolly Verzosa and Renesa Melgar are looking forward to bring back the Lady Bombers back to the Final Four in their final year, coach Mia Tioseco is looking upbeat about her team’s chances this season.
“Actually very proud ako sa kanilang lahat as a unit, especially sa graduating players kasi kumbaga na-showcase nila kung ano yung kaya nilang gawin. Yun lang naman yung gusto ko para at least, they feel good about themselves,” said Tioseco after JRU opened its campaign with a 13-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-17 win over Letran last Tuesday.
Verzosa, who was the Rookie of the Year when the Lady Bombers, led by season MVP Shola Alvarez, achieved a breakthrough Final Four appearance in 2018, hope to get it done.
“Simula nung nag-start pa lang yung bubble namin, tumatak na talaga sa utak ko yung goal ko na dalhin yung team sa Final Four and hopefully makaabot kami ng Finals,” said Verzosa, who scored nine points against the Lady Knights.
“Kaya lagi sa training, ‘yun lagi iniisip namin. Minsan nawawala siya then kailangan ko lang i-remind ‘yung sarili ko.”
JRU has a steady middle blocker in Sydney Riegos, as well as setter Jerry Lyn Laurente to accomplish its goal.
The Lady Generals, for their part, hope to turn things around right away in the short tournament after a sound beating they received in the season opener. EAC bowed to San Sebastian, 11-25, 13-25, 16-25, last Tuesday.
Letran and University of Perpetual Help System Dalta hope to enter the win column in the day’s other match at 2:30 p.m.
Despite good numbers from Cha Cuñada and Shereena Urmeneta, the Lady Knights failed to sustain their impressive first set outing by losing to the Lady Bombers in four sets.
The Lady Altas failed to give new coach Sandy Rieta a winning debut, as Perpetual suffered a 23-25, 19-25, 16-25 loss to Lyceum of the Philippines University.
