UAAP: Valdez's 28 points power Ateneo past UST in five-setter

Last season's runners-up Ateneo Lady Eagles survived an opening set blowout plus an injury to starter Ana Gopico before edging their foes, the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses, 15-25 25-23 22-25 25-20 15-13, in an epic match that went the distance on Wednesday, at the FilOil Flying V Arena.

Ateneo stays in step at 5-1 with the NU Lady Bulldogs, who earlier swept the UP Lady Maroons. The two teams are just a loss behind the perfect 5-0 DLSU Lady Archers, the tourney's defending champions. UST on the other hand slumped to 2-4.

Lady Eagles captain Alyssa Valdez put the team on her back as they overcame a first set blowout to eke out the win. Valdez showed off her scoring chops with 28 big points, finishing as the only ADMU player in double-figures, 25 of that coming via spikes.

Marge Tejada added eight points, as did Ana Gopico, but the latter suffered what seemed to be a knee injury in the fourth and had to be stretchered out. Michelle Morente also chipped in seven markers.

The UST duo of Pam Lastimosa and Mela Tunay combined for 40 markers in the loss, 28 via kills, with Lastimosa adding five blocks and Tunay four service aces. Marivic Meneses added 12, five scores from blocks as well.

Ateneo won thanks in part to huge differences in the non-scoring skills, with a 47-26 margin in excellent digs, 23 from Dennise Lazaro, and a 35-17 edge in excellent sets. - AMD, GMA News