BEING tough, sometimes, is not enough.
The Lady Spikers showed remarkable resilience throughout the conference, bucking a so-so first round and several lineup problems to make the Shakey’s V-League Third Conference Finals.
Their weaknesses, however, caught up with them in the most crucial games of the fledgling league as perennial adversary De La Salle University (DLSU), led by MVP Maureen Penetrante, emerged with its second championship.
The Lady Archers sealed the deal in Game 2, 17-25, 25-22, 30-28, 25-20, last July 7 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum (RMC).
UST displayed superb offense and defense in the early goings of the match, with team captain Roxanne Pimentel blasting DLSU with eight points in the first set.
In the second juncture, Penetrante and guest player Michelle Carolino spearheaded DLSU’s frontline attack to avenge its mediocre opening set
It was neck-and-neck in the third set, with both teams exchanging attacks and errors. Venus Bernal piloted the Tigresses’ attacks, scoring nine of her team-high 17 points, mostly on cross-court kills, in a losing bid as UST wore out four set point opportunities to hand DLSU the overdrawn set.
In the fourth set, the Lady Spikers started out of sync as Joyce Pano, Balse, and Bernal committed crucial service errors. The Lady Archers, on the other hand, unleashed a balanced attack behind Carolino, Penetrante, and Desiree Hernandez for a 20-10 lead.
Rallying behind Pano, the Lady Spikers trimmed the lead to three points, 19-22, but the powerhouse DLSU squad rode out UST’s rally attempt, en route to its straight second championship.
The Lady Archers drew first blood, slaying the Tigresses in Game 1, 25-21, 18-25, 25-19, 27-25, last July 4, also at the RMC.
Penetrante pummeled UST with 18 monstrous kills in the match that lasted for one hour and 43 minutes.
“We had no attack coordination. La Salle had all the opportunities to block and score,” coach August Santamaria said of his players’ performance.
Former MVP and last season’s Best Receiver Balse earned the Best Server award.
DLSU dominated the Mythical Selection. Hotshot playmaker Reiea Ferina Saet was Best Setter, while RP Team libero Shermaine Peñano received the Best Receiver award. Carolino, last season’s MVP, bagged the Best Attacker plum.
Other award recipients were Far Eastern University’s Genelyn Alemania (Best Digger), San Sebastian College’s Cherry Rose Macatangay (Best Scorer), and Ateneo de Manila University’s Michelle Laborte (Best Blocker).
