After opening the season with two consecutive losses, the Lady Spikers nailed their second straight victory at the expense of cellar-dwellers University of the Philippines (UP), 22-25, 25-15, 25-16, 25-18, at the Arena in San Juan last Dec. 11.
The UST Tiger Spikers clobbered the Ateneo de Manila University, 25-14, 25-20, 25-18, the day before to score their third straight win.
Maika Ortiz led the Lady Spikers’ fiery offense in the last set to tie the count at 16-apiece. Carmela Tunay joined the frenzy and ignited a 6-0 blitz to jack up the lead, 23-17.
UST atoned for a first-set meltdown with a 6-0 run, anchored on Maruja Banaticla’s crosscourt forays in the second frame, to lead 11-2. Banaticla nailed an off-the-block hit to break an 11-all deadlock in the third frame before Ortiz’s off-speed attack and Tunay’s crosscourt kills exposed UP’s porous floor defense. UST led, 23-14.
Ortiz sizzled with 16 points while Banaticla and Tunay tossed in 14 and 11 points, respectively. UP’s Jezza Lasmarias recorded a career high 17 points.
“They still need a true leader to step up, someone to organize them inside the court,”head coach Odjie Mamon said.
The Tiger Spikers also conquered their game against Ateneo after team captain Jayson Ramos, who racked up 13 points, stepped up in the third set.
Ateneo’s Neil Patrick Flores eased the pain for Ateneo after blasting a through-the-block attack against UST’s double blockers composed of Mark Alfafara and sophomore Romick Rico, 14-12. An unforced error by Ateneo’s John Paul Pareja wrapped up the set for the Tiger Spikers, 25-18.
UST pulled away early in the second canto, 7-2, as Depante scored four consecutive points coming from his aggressive kills and back-to-back aces. Errors plagued the Espana-based tossers in the middle of the set giving Ateneo a chance to inch closer at16-15. Alfafara scored on his frontline swipes and powerful attacks to nail the victory forUST.
Depante and Alfafara chalked up 15 points apiece.
