Lady Spikers suffer first SSL defeat from AdU’s deadly talons
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers (2-1) suffered their first loss from the hands of the Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons (2-1), 22–25, 20–25, 21–25, in the Shakeys Super League earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
With this loss, the Lady Spikers are now tied with AdU Lady Falcons and UST Golden Tigresses, all with a 2–1 win-loss record in Pool F.
Aprylle Tagsip took control of the game early in favor of AdU, scoring the first point with a drop. Several errors from the Lady Falcons gave La Salle their first lead, 8–6, but the Lady Spikers couldn’t hold on as Angelica Alcantara’s service ace erased La Salle’s lead, 9–9. Jolina Dela Cruz kept La Salle alive with excellent attacks, but the fifth year spiker also had her fair share of attack errors, allowing the Falcons to get easy points, 18–16. After La Salle committed several offensive errors, the Lady Falcons went on a 5-0 run to take the lead, 20–23. They then swooped in from above, and a Lucille Almonte attack penetrating the Lady Spikers' net defense sealed Set 1 for AdU, 22–25.
Coming into the second set, Kate Santiago drew first blood with her heavy talons as the Lady Falcons asserted dominance until Alleiah Malaluan came up from behind to score La Salle’s first point for the set, 1–2. The events that followed were unfavorable for DLSU, save for a few arrows that found their respective targets. Santiago then stacked up on points to send the Lady Falcons to the second TTO with a comfortable 12-point lead, 4–16. However, as Angel Canino, Dela Cruz, and Alba returned to the court, the Lady Spikers went on a quick 10–2 stint to bri ng them back to the game, 14–19. Amie Provido then snatched the bow and drew back-to-back bullseyes, cutting the Falcons' lead to two, 20–22. Unfortunately, consecutive attack errors from the Taft-based squad and a successful AdU challenge handed the Lady Falcons another set, 20–25.
During the third set, the Lady Falcons darted in to take an early 3-0 run as Trisha Tubu scored back-to-back. Canino and Almonte traded deadly attacks until the latter proved too powerful for La Salle’s Provido, 3–7. Eventually, two Alba-Provido monster blocks clipped AdU’s lead to two, 14–16, but the Lady Spikers couldn’t close the two-point gap even further after Provido converted a few of her own attacks to keep the Spikers on AdU’s tail, 16–18. The Lady Spikers were plagued by service errors throughout the game, and these errors costed them the opportunity to take a lead. Malaluan’s attack error finally sealed the match for the Lady Falcons, 21–25.
The DLSU Lady Spikers will be facing their long-time rival, the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the Quarterfinals round of the Shakeys Super League tomorrow, November 6, 4PM, at the same venue.
Box scores:
DLSU 63 — Canino 18, Provido 14, Gagate 10, Dela Cruz 7, Cruz 5, Malaluan 3, Sharma 2, Coronel 2, Ordiales 1, Jazareno (L) 1, Larroza (L) 0, Alba 0, Hatulan 0, Levina 0
AdU 75 — Almonte 13, Santiago 12, Tubu 12, Cruz 5, Toring 5, Alcantara 3, Tagsip 3, Lalongisip 3, Nuique 2, Juegos 2, Adolfo 1, Lazo (L) 0, Romero 0, Verdeflor (L) 0
