March 19, 2016, 8:43p.m. – DEFENDING champion Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles demolished the UST Golden Tigresses, 25-20, 25-18, 25-18, in the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament at the Philsports Arena in Pasig Saturday.
Ateneo ignited a 7-2 rally in the middle of the third set, 21-14, before Amy Ahomiro sealed the Lady Eagles’ Final Four berth with back-to-back service aces, 25-18.
A 6-1 run from UST in the second set trimmed Ateneo’s six-point lead to one, 8-9, but Lady Eagle Jhoana Maraguinot closed the set with a down-the-line hit.
The Lady Eagles opened the game with 19-10 cushion before Ria Meneses brought UST to within five off a block, 18-23.
UST scored two more off Ateneo’s errors before Lady Eagle Alyssa Valdez iced the set with a down the line hit.
“Lahat ng main men natin ‘di ko masabing nag-deliver. ‘Yung mga nasa loob [na players] hindi ko alam kung anong nararamdaman nila, siguro pressure, intimidated or overwhelmed dahil sa dami ng crowd,” UST head coach Emilio Reyes Jr. said.
The Lady Eagles had full control of the defensive end with eight blocks compared to the Tigresses’ two. Bea de Leon recorded four for Ateneo.
Maraguinot and UAAP top scorer Valdez led Ateneo with 14 points apiece.
Cherry Rondina paced UST with 11 markers while team captain EJ Laure had 9.
UST dropped to a 5-6 win-loss slate for fifth place, tied with National University.
The Tigresses will try to bounce back on March 30 against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws at the San Juan Arena. Randell Angelo B. Ritumalta
