THE LADY Spikers won the UAAP beach volleyball title after disposing of the Ateneo de Manila University team in their best-of-three series, 21-19, 21-16, at the University of the East-Caloocan sand courts this morning.
The men’s duo of Jayson Ramos and Mark Alfafara settled for a first-running up finish after losing to the defending champion Far Eastern University, 14-21, 17-21.
Maruja Banaticla battled through leg cramps and teamed up with Judy Caballejo to give the Lady Spikers their first championship since 2006.
“We trusted each other that we can win the game,” said Caballejo, this year’s MVP.
Ateneo fought hard in the second frame and forced the 10th deadlock of the set at 11 apiece. But Banaticla and Caballejo quickly regrouped and regained the lead for UST, 16-13, first with a tip shot and later with back-to-back kills.
Caballejo and Banaticla earlier buried the FEU Lady Spikers, 21—11, 21-19 last Sept. 11, to remain atop the standings with a 6-1 win-loss card.
The Tiger Spikers earlier surrendered to Arvin Avila and Karl de la Calzada of defending champion FEU, 20-22, 21-19, 12-15,
“We definitely had problems with our attacks and our defense, that’s why we failed to catch up,” said the rookie Alfafara.
The Lady Spikers pulverized the Lady Tamaraws in the first frame highlighted by a seven-point lead, 14-7.
Despite initiating a 6-0 barrage early the second set, 8-4, the Lady Spikers struggled as FEU picked up its offense to force deadlocks at 10-all and 19 apiece. But Caballejo answered with a well-placed shot, 20-19. De la Peña tried to counter with a quick attack, which was long.
“This season, I really saw their commitment and enthusiasm to their games,” said coach Emil Lontoc. “I believe, they will win [the crown] this season.”
The Lady Spikers earlier defeated the University of the Philippines (21-13, 21-14), and second-place finisher Ateneo de Manila University (21-18, 21-12) for their fourth and fifth wins. Their lone defeat came on Sept. 3 against last season’s titlist Adamson University, 15-21, 17-21. Alexis U. Cerado
