Lady Eagles secure semis twice-to-beat advantage

FILE: Setter Deanna Wong also added 23 excellent sets. (Photo: Jim De Ramos/Facebook)

The Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Lady Eagles are officially the first University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 women’s volleyball team to secure a twice-to-beat advantage for the semifinals, after effortlessly defeating the Adamson University Lady (AdU) Falcons in a three-set game last Wednesday, April 24 at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Kat Tolentino wanted to redeem her team from their three-set loss against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers last week, so she performed with 17 points on 12 attacks and five blocks. Teammate Maddie Madayag chipped 13 points off nine attacks, three blocks, and one ace, while Ponggay Gaston has nine points and 21 digs. Setter Deanna Wong also added 23 excellent sets, while Kim Gequillana had 20 digs and 20 excellent sets as libero.

For Adamson, it was Bern Flora who had 25 digs, 18 excellent receptions, and a total of nine points. Fellow Lady Falcon Chiara Permentilla chipped nine points as well, while libero Thang Ponce contributed 33 digs and 16 receptions. Yet, unfortunately, they were unable to prevent Ateneo’s 11 rejections, also allowing the opponent to have a 20 spike advantage over their numbers.

Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro “commends [his] players” after the game, telling the media in a mix of English and Filipino, “They really worked hard for it. They don’t rest. They keep on doing many sacrifices.” Tolentino also shared, “It just goes to show that we have to be able to adjust when things might not go our way. Today was a good test for us.”

The Lady Eagles will try to go for the top spot into the semis next Saturday, April 27, as it faces the University of the East (UE), while Adamson will try to bounce back against the University of the Philippines on the same day.