La Salle one win away from UAAP women's volleyball crown

La Salle moved a step closer to successfully defending its UAAP women's volleyball title after scrapping off a 23-25, 25-21, 26-24, 25-18, in another thrilling encounter in Game Two of the finals series Saturday at the FilOil Flying V Arena.  The Lady Archers held steadier down the stretch despite facing a six-point deficit in the third and the match tied at 1-1 apiece.   Rookie of the Year winner Ara Galang delivered when it mattered most in the fourth set to help La Salle clinch the hard-earned win. The Taft-based spikers, rebounding from a four-set loss in the finals opener that snapped their 14-game winning run, can clinch a seventh overall women's volleyball crown with a Game Three victory on Wednesday. "They played aggressively and our blocking clicked. They were nice in Game One that's why I have to remind them to be aggressive," said La Salle mentor Ramil De Jesus. Season 74 Best Blocker awardee Michelle Gumabao tallied with 18 points and five blocks while Cha Cruz and Galang added 12 hits each for the Lady Archers. Season Most Valuable Player Abigail Maraño struggled all game long finished with seven points. Ateneo rookie Alyssa Valdez collected 23 hits while team skipper Fille Cainglet and Dzi Gervacio added 13 and 10 points apiece. "Their lack of maturity showed. We could have won the third set," said Ateneo mentor Roger Gorayeb. The Lady Eagles were comfortably ahead, 16-10, in the third and were two points away from a two-sets-to-one advantage when an Aillysse Nacachi service error moved the Lady Archers within one, 23-22. Cainglet scored for a 24-22 Ateneo lead, but La Salle rookie Mika Reyes made three straight points—including two service aces—while Cruz closed out with a kill for the Lady Archers to take the third set. — JVP, GMA News