JUST one team remains winless in UAAP Season 88, as Ateneo pounded on already-grounded UE in straight sets, 25-19, 25-23, 25-16 on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The Blue Eagles took control from first serve in the battle between winless teams.
Khy Cepada dropped eight points to make the second set all the more interesting, but Zel Tsunashima led the blue-and-white in keeping the Lady Warriors at bay time and time again.
In the end, behind Ana Hermosura and Jihan Chuatico, the blue-and-white finally entered the win column after seven games in the first round.
"After that 0-6 standing, yung losses na yun, we treated them as learning experience," Chuatico told reporters in their first post-win interview of the tournament.
"Pero today, paggising ko, I said, 'I don't wanna learn today. I wanna win.'"
Hermosura topped the scoring column with 12 points, all but one from attacks, on top of seven receptions and six digs, while Chuatico stood tall with 13 markers built on seven hits and five blocks.
One Bigger Fight for Ateneo
Tsunashima and Donna De Leon then chipped in 10 points apiece, as Ateneo now heads into the second round with boosted morale.
"We're gonna power through this Round 2 and really gonna focus. Yung maturity and character, we need to improve on that," said Tsunashima.
On the other hand, the bottom keeps falling for UE, which absorbed its 21st loss in a row dating back to two years ago.
Cepada paced them in the losing effort with 13 points, as Van Bangayan chimed in 10 markers of her own.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
