La Salle keeps clean slate
By Anthony Divinagracia
20 December 2009 09:49 AM
Manila, Philippines - Powerhouse De La Salle University stretched its unbeaten run to five games with a 25-17, 27-25, 25, 14 drubbing of a tentative UP crew yesterday at the Flying V FilOil Arena in San Juan.
The defending champions reasserted its mastery over the Lady Maroons, who have yet to win a set against the Lady Archers since last season, but not without overcoming UP’s gallant stand in the second set.
With veterans Carmela Lopez, Toni Tan and Carmina Barcelon finding their mark above the net, UP outscored La Salle, 11-7, to open the second frame. The Lady Archers racked up four straight points at the turn to even up before unleashing a momentum-shifting 8-3 attack that pushed La Salle comfortably ahead, 19-14.
UP however capitalized on La Salle’s pile of miscues in the ensuing plays to force a 22-all deadlock before zooming ahead, 24-23, on an Abigail Maraño error and a Bercelon kill.
But Barcelon ironically returned the favor to La Salle with a mistimed attack which tied the count at 24-all, paving the way for the Lady Archers’ scintillating comeback anchored on back-to-back open hits from skipper Stephanie Mercado.
La Salle built an imposing 19-9 advantage in the third set, allowing coach Ramil de Jesus to rest his starters and give the reserves some playing time.
Mercado fronted La Salle’s offensive charge with 18 points while Charlene Cruz added 13. The Lady Archers fired 11 aces, three each from second stringers Camille Cerveza and Isabella Lepping.
Lopez and Barcelon tallied 14 and 10 points, respectively to pace UP, which now tote a 1-4 card.
In the second game, Ateneo de Manila University stunned University of Santo Tomas, 32-30, 25-23, 8-25, 19-25, 17-15 to share third place with the Tigresses at 3-2.
Dzi Gervacio led five Lady Eagles in double figures with 26 points all from the attack line. Ateneo captain Carmina Acevedo and Fille Cainglet registered 11 markers each while Gretchen Ho and Bea Pascual chipped in 10 apiece.
UST skipper Aiza Maizo and Angeli Tabaquero scored 21 points each while Maika Ortiz and Judy Ann Caballejo added 17 and 13 respectively.
Women’s volleyball action resumes on January 9 at the Arena as La Salle tries to notch its six straight win against bottom-feeding NU in the 2 pm opener before UST and UE face off at 4 pm.
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Queens of the volleyball court
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Lady Archers fall in Game 1
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Catch the pretty Rachel Daquis helping out the Lady Tams from the sidelines as a asst. coach
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check out the beauty and brains smashing their skills on the volleyball hardcourt
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check out the snapshots of the Lady Warriors and the Lady Archers here
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Reigning UAAP champ Lady Archers show their championship form
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