LA Salle’s Mich Morente and Tin Tiamzon defeated Isa Molde and Justine Dorog of University of the Philippines, 21-16, 24-26, 15-9, on Saturday to advance to the finals of UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament at the Sands by the Bay in Pasay City.
Morente and Tiamzon, who won six of their seven elimination games to finish at No. 2, take on UST’s unbeaten tandem Sisi Rondina and Babylove Barbon in the best-of-three finals series starting on Sunday at 9 a.m.
Dorog and Molde settled for the bronze medal after winning two knockout matches to reach the last phase of the stepladder. The UP pair beat Ateneo’s Ponggay Gaston and Jules Samonte in the playoff for the last semis berth before defeating NU’s Antonette Landicho and Kly Orillaneda to advance in the last phase of the stepladder.
“Grabe rin kasi ‘yung UP ang sipag nila, ang tiyaga nila alam mo yun kudos to them lumaban pa rin sila hanggang sa dulo,” said Morente, playing for the Lady Spikers after transferring from rival school Ateneo.
“Mindset lang namin ni Tin na last push na 'to, na kaya naman namin 'to. Alam kong para sa amin 'to, hindi naman 'to para sa crowd o sa coaches para sa amin naman 'to as a team.”
La Salle is in the finals for the first time since Season 78 when Kim Fajardo and Cyd Demecillo won the title.
“‘Yung main goal i-lessen yung errors kasi like this past game, we could have minimize our errors. Enjoy the game also and to learn from it kasi in a way preparation din to for indoor,” Tiamzon said.