THREE-peat seeking La Salle turned back Ateneo, 25-20, 25-17, 24-26, 25-20, on Saturday to get back on track in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament on Saturday at the MOA Arena.
Kim Dy put on a show with 21 points, from 11 kills, seven blocks and three service aces, for the Lady Spikers to improve to 5-2 and join Far Eastern University in the No. 2 spot.
“I think, coming from a loss kasi, kailangan talaga naming mag-bounce back and we need to get that confidence again,” said Dy.
“Laging sinasabi ni coach sa amin 'yun, parang, sino kayo? ‘Di ba kayo ang defending champions. Coming to this game, we just remembered who we are,” she added.
Tin Tiamzon also had 13 markers for La Salle, Desiree Cheng added 11, including seven of the team’s 16 service aces, while skipper Majoy Baron and Aduke Ogunsanya contributed 10 points apiece in a match that took almost two hours to finish in front of 18, 537 fans who flocked the venue.
La Salle looked set to finish the match in three after it erased a 10-point deficit, 11-21, in the third set before Ateneo held on and extended the match.
The Lady Spikers took the lead 17-11 in the fourth before the Lady Eagles got to within two, 19-21, but the titleholders played steady to bounce back after a loss to the Lady Tamaraws.
Jhoana Maraguinot finished with 13 points for Ateneo, Kat Tolentino chipped in 12, Bea de Leon added 11 and team captain Maddie Madayag had 10.
Ateneo slid to 4-3 in fourth spot after its four-game win run came to an end at the hands of La Salle. The Lady Eagles played without head coach Tai Bundit, who's in Thailand for the death anniversary of his father-in-law. He will be back on Monday.
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