Ateneo boosts Final Four bid
By Anthony Divinagracia
02 February 2010 08:46 AM
Manila, Philippines - Ateneo de Manila University solidified its defense and went to the tandem of sophomores Angeline Gervacio and Fille Cainglet to turn back Far Eastern University, 19-25, 22-25, 25-20, 25-18, 15-12, on Sunday in the 72nd UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the San Juan Arena.
With their Final Four chances on the line, Gervacio and Cainglet showed end-game composure to register 23 and 16 points, respectively, and carry their team after losing the first two sets against FEU.
The Lady Tams, bannered by the league’s top scorer, Cherry May Vivas, was on the brink of sweeping Ateneo and resuscitating their fading Final Four hopes but suffered a monumental collapse in the third set after giving away 15 error points.
The two teams went neck-and-neck in the fifth canto with FEU having the last taste of the lead at 12-11 after Shaira Gonzalez won a joust at the net. Cainglet and Gervacio, however, came through with back-to-back attacks to give the Lady Eagles a one-point lead. Gonzalez then slammed the ball onto the net, while Ateneo’s Gretchen Ho foiled a Monique Tiangco hit to seal the win for the Katipunan-based squad.
Earlier, the Adamson University Lady Falcons upended a surprisingly tough National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs, 25-14, 29-27, 18-25, 25-20. Paulina Soriano and Angela Benting contributed 21 and 15 markers, respectively to pace the Lady Falcons.
After giving Adamson a scare in the second period, the Lady Bulldogs went to top hitter Mervic Mangui and got unexpected contribution from Elaine Sagun, to steal the third set. NU, however, failed to match up Adamson’s offensive prowess in the fourth frame.
With their wins, Ateneo and Adamson fortified their Final Four aspirations, occupying the third and fourth spots with identical 7-4 win-loss slates. FEU, on the other hand, would have to defeat UST, Adamson, and UP and hope that the Lady Falcons lose their remaining matches to at least force a playoff for the last Final Four slot.
In the men’s side, University of the Philippines (UP) and De La Salle University trounced separate opponents to strengthen their own Final Four bids.
With sophomore Dominico Lucindo drilling 12 kills, UP easily disposed off NU, 25-22, 25-20, 25-23. His teammates Luis Aguilan, Giancarlo Ramos, and Rald Benson Ricafort combined for 25 points.
Meanwhile, Chris Macasaet flexed his scoring muscle anew as he registered 18 markers to lead the Archers past University of the East (UE), 25-20, 19-25, 25-21, 25-18. Macasaet got ample support from Carlo Rivera, Michael Antonio, and Kevin dela Vega, who tallied a combined 35-point output.
Toting similar 6-5 records, the Maroons and the Archers currently bunched at third and fourth places, respectively. With Ivan de Lara
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Year of the Tigers
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Queens of the volleyball court
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Lady Archers fall in Game 1
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UST draws first blood
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tug-of-war on the field
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spike it hard
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