Doves force Game 3 on Patriots in UCAA men's volleyball

The St. Francis of Assisi College Doves just would not budge for the De La Salle-Dasmari̱as Patriots, hacking a hard-fought three-set victory on Wednesday to tie their best-of-three men's volleyball title series of the Universities and Colleges Athletic Association (UCAA). The Doves scored the series-tying victory (25-21, 25-14, 25-11) at the DLSU-Dasmari̱as covered court in Cavite, forcing a winner-take-all Game 3, according to a league statement. Earlier in women's volleyball, the Lady Doves relied on the heads-up plays of Most Valuable Player (MVP) awardee Sarah Gonzaga and Best Setter Dara Hernandez to outplay the Lady Patriots (21-25, 25-23, 25-18, 23-25, 15-12) and clinch their first-ever volleyball crown. Elizer Payo led the Doves' offense in the first set, scoring with his smashes and placement shots, while helping out in defense to leading the team in turning a 6-6 standoff to a comfortable 11-6 cushion. The Patriots charged back and moved to within 9-11 behind Salani Pajiji's kills, but Riego Serquillo, Payo, and Archie Taruc joined forces to shove the Doves way ahead, 20-11. In the second set, a block from Alex Jalosjos, a wide cross-court error from Patriots spiker Jeoffrey Valencia and a long volley from Danny Dolor allowed the Doves to stay in control, 16-10. Payo and Taruc continued to sizzle in the third set, as the Doves leaned on a 5-1 start to finish off the Patriots. "This is a good win for us," Doves coach Sammy Acaylar said. "We prepared hard for this. We want this championship. We've been champions for three years, pero naagaw sa amin ng La Salle-Dasmari̱as last year. So we really need to win this one." The Lady Doves rallied from a 10-12 deficit in the final set, scoring the crucial points behind Hernandez's power serves. Aciel Cuevas also chipped in her share in defense, making timely blocks, and with Hernandez scoring off a jump-serve and a kill, and Gonzaga soaring high for her own spikes, the Doves finally turned the tables against the hard-fighting Lady Patriots. At the awarding rites after the game, the Mythical Six were named РApril Almaden, and Satchel Senupe of La Salle-Dasmari̱as; Aprilyn Mojica, Ingrid Verayo, Ace Dubiao, and Gonzaga of St. Francis. - GMANews.TV