Lady Archers slam Tigresses
By Alder T. Almo
08 December 2009 07:04 PM
MANILA, Philippines – Defending champion De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers showed that they remain the team to beat right in their league debut in Season 72 of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP).
The Lady Archers came from behind to nip the University of Sto. Tomas Tigresses in five gripping sets, 20-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 15-11, during their match up at the FilOil Fying V Arena in San Juan.
DLSU, which skipped the Shakey’s V League in the pre-season, proved it still has what it takes to defend their UAAP crown as it redeemed itself from the same team that gave it a straight-set beating in the Unigames in Bacolod last October.
Fresh from winning their record fifth Shakey’s V League crown last week, UST appeared headed to victory after clinching the first set but faded in the homestretch.
After V-League conference and Finals MVP Aiza Maizo scored 4 straight points to tie the final set, 11-all, the Lady Archers blanked them the rest of the way to escape with the victory.
“Medyo hirap. Madami pang kailangang i-adjust. Pero step-by-step naman ‘yan,” said DLSU coach Ramil de Jesus.
Stephanie Mercado led the Lady Archers’ attack with 28 hits including the match point in the final set.
Charleen Cruz added 21 points while Jacqueline Alarca had 11 to caution the impact left by last season’s MVP Manila Santos, Michelle Datuin and Celine Hernandez, who already used up their playing eligibility years.
UST, meanwhile, drew 21 points from Maizo and 18 hits from rookie Maru Banaticla. Angeli Tabaquero fired 14 points but her crucial lapses did the Tigresses in.
In the other match, Shakey’s V League runner up Adamson Lady Falcons maintained their mastery over Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws with a straight set victory, 25-18, 25-17, 30-28.
Angela Benting powered the Lady Falcons with 24 hits while Jill Gustillo backed her up with 11 points.
The Lady Tamaraws, who sorely missed their former ace spiker Rachel Daquis, was led by Shaira Gonzales’ 13 points.
FEU scores vs NU in Men’s
Earlier in the day, FEU came back after yielding the first set to score a 20-25, 25-22, 25-15, 25-21 win over National University Bulldogs in the men’s tournament.
Kirk Beliran and Joshua Alcarde led the Tamaraws with 16 and 15 hits in the match that lasted 1 hour and 16 minutes.
The other match saw the University of the East Red Warriors making a quick work of the Adamson Falcons, 25-11, 25-22, 25-22.
The Warriors easily disposed the Falcons in just 59 minutes.
Dominic Estrada, Alvin Padilla and Benchard Pedrano scored 13, 12 and 11 points, respectively to lead the Warriors’ balanced attack.
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