UAAP: Ateneo downs Adamson in straight sets to book date with NU

The league's top scorer and best server Alyssa Valdez led the Lady Eagles corps to a three-set rout of the wily Lady Falcons, scoring 19 points, 13 off attacks, while rookie Michelle Morente recorded 12 points. Ella de Jesus notched 11 points off 11 kills as the Lady Eagles advanced to the semifinal round of the stepladder format.

 

The Lady Falcons (6-8) earned the right to face the Lady Eagles (10-4) after winning their playoff match against the Lady Tamaraws (6-8) last Wednesday. Ateneo is now set to go against the NU Lady Bulldogs (12-2) in the semifinals starting Wednesday, with the latter holding a twice-to-beat advantage.

 

The Lady Eagles stormed out of the gates, marching to a 10-3 lead with Valdez scoring half of her side’s points. Ateneo managed to keep the advantage until the 18-11 mark, when Adamson forged a comeback, as the Lady Eagles’ main weapons struggled to control their hits. The lead whittled down to a single point, 21-20, with the Katipunan contingent committing six unforced errors during the stretch.

 

A De Jesus attack gave the Lady Eagles a two-point cushion, but Adamson kept it close. A service error from rookie Jessica Galanza gave the Lady Eagles a 25-24 score, and a kill from the left clinched the first set for Ateneo, despite committing 12 unforced errors.

 

The Lady Falcons played up to par in the second set, keeping Ateneo’s lead at a single point early in the set until they finally pushed ahead, 12-11, after a block by Amanda Villanueva. De Jesus provided instant firepower after Coach Bundit put her on the floor, scoring four quick markers to give her side the a five-point lead, 19-14.  Towards the end, the Lady Eagles squandered the lead due to errors, as a kill from Villanueva dashed the lead to a single point, 22-21. However, Ateneo’s wealth of scorers prevailed, as Valdez and De Jesus knocked out the Lady Falcons in the second set, 25-23, pitting a two-set advantage between them and their foes.

 

Adamson had problems in their blocking department as the Lady Eagles erected a four-point wall early in the set, 11-7. The squad from San Marcelino managed to trim the deficit, 12-10, after two consecutive errors from Morado and Patnongon, but the lead shot back up to five, 16-11, after an error by Pineda. The Lady Falcons, however, mounted a comeback, tying the game after scoring four straight points, with each of Adamson’s graduating players scoring one marker apiece, 19-all.

 

Two consecutive points from Valdez and De Jesus put the Lady Eagles up 21-19, but a kill from the left by Erika Alquino kept Adamson in the game, 21-20. A botched possession by Valdez gave Adamson a glimmer of hope, 22-21, but the senior player compensated by scoring two straight points, 24-21. A kill by Morente ended set three with aplomb, 25-21.  

 

Amy Ahomiro added 10 points for Ateneo. Despite 29 unforced errors, the Lady Eagles powered through with 49 attack points, compared to Adamson’s 30.
 

Sheila Pineda, Mayette Zapanta and May Macatuno combined for 23 points in their final game for Adamson. Amanda Villanueva also added 10 markers. They committed only 19 unforced errors but fell to the Lady Eagles in all other departments.

 

The Lady Eagles will be facing the Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday, February 26, at 4pm in the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan. - RAF, GMA News