Lady Spikers clinch second win against FEU
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers (2–0) clinched their second win of the UAAP Season 86 after defeating the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws (1–1) in straight sets, 25–20, 25–17, 25–22, earlier today at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Libero Lyka De Leon was given the honor of bearing the Player of the Game (POG) title after contributing 16 excellent digs and 12 receptions that aided the team’s victory.
Thea Gagate opened up the scoring in the first set with two straight points from an attack and a block, and an oppositional error placed La Salle ahead, 3–0. The Lady Tamaraws quickly made up for the error with a cross-court attack from Faida Bakanke which gave her team their first point of the set. This was followed by a series of point-bearing attacks from both sides, proving that the teams walked into the court with only one thing in mind: to build a winning streak.
Living up to their reputation, DLSU’s defense remained on point with nearly impenetrable blocks that met every attack attempt against them, along with razor-sharp spikes that were difficult to receive. However, FEU’s speed and agility made receiving these attacks look easy. Their efficient defense against the Lady Spikers gave them opportunities to attack and score. With this, the Taft team maximized on the Lady Tamaraws’ errors and took them as opportunities to keep the momentum on their side and remain focused on keeping the goal of taking games one point at a time. The set soon closed out with La Salle on top, 25–20.
In the second set, an early violation was called on the Lady Tamaraws which gave a one-point advantage to the Lady Spikers. Tallying multiple oppositional errors, both the Lady Spikers and Lady Tamaraws struggled to have a flawless finish but never lost their groove. Eventually, multiple DLSU attacks from Gagate, Shevana Laput, and Angel Canino were unreceived by the Morayta squad which created a growing point-gap between the teams. FEU showed no signs of retreat, however, as a Jean Asis, Gerzel Petallo, and Chenie Tagaod combination sent back as many attacks to score.
When the Lady Tamaraws began to read La Salle’s attacks better, the Lady Spikers relied on their instincts to improvise like Team Captain Julia Coronel scoring with one of her signature fake-set drop balls. The Lady Spikers who played today are the same spikers who vowed to stop at nothing to defend the crown. Even this early in the season, the Lady Spikers play every game like it’s their last, treating elimination games like championships and doing their best in every gameplay. Much like the previous set, the Lady Spikers managed to pull away and take the set, 25–17.
The third set became the biggest struggle for the Green and White because, at this point, FEU’s hunger to win grew stronger knowing it was a do-or-die set. J. Asis executed a solo block against a Gagate spike and made waves scoring back-to-back, superseding the Lady Spikers, 4–6. The Taft-based squad was quick to bounce back with a service ace from Canino and an Alleiah Malaluan cross-court attack, putting the favor back in the Lady Spikers’ hands, 10–9.
From there, the Lady Tamaraws strengthened their defense and got more creative when spreading out in preparation for attack positions. While DLSU found strength in their blocks and close coverage defense near the net, FEU’s scattered floor defense kept them close to every kind of attack that their opponent had to offer. The rallies of the set often concluded in a point for the Green and Gold because of their effective defense system. Nevertheless, it was still not enough to surpass the quick-thinking and agility fueled by the thirst for victory that the Lady Spikers possess and embed in their playing mindset. Multiple attack errors from the Lady Tamaraws resulted in DLSU pulling away, 18–12.
Eager to end the match, Laput landed a strong cross-court attack that was misreceived, setting the score at 23–21. Consecutive service errors from both teams brought La Salle to the match point. Canino wrote the perfect ending to a hard-fought match by striking a misreceive into the ground, clinching the victory against the FEU Lady Tamaraws, 25–22.
Still on the hunt to defend their crown, the Lady Spikers advance as undefeated in the first round of eliminations and prepare to face the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses on Sunday, February 25, at 3 PM, at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.
Set Scores: 25–20, 25–17, 25–22
Box Scores:
DLSU 3 – Canino 13, Laput 10, Gagate 8, Malaluan 7, Coronel 3, Provido 3, Soreño 2, Larroza 1, De Leon 0 (L)
FEU 0 – Petallo 7, Asis J. 6, Bakanke 6, Devosora 6, Tagaod 6, Asis A. 3, Panangin 2, Papa 1, Alberto 0, Ubaldo 0, Encarnacion 0 (L), Monares 0 (L)
