The De La Salle University Lady Spikers lost to the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles in five heart-pumping sets, 25-18, 28-26, 17-25, 16-25, 11-15, in game two of the UAAP Season 78 Finals at the MOA Arena, earlier today.
The match was enticed by 20,541 roaring fans from start to finish.
In the first set, La Salle looked to pound on the Blue and White as Ara Galang connected with a service ace to post a seven point lead, 9-2. DLSU had an answer to Ateneo everytime they tried to rally, but Galang once again sealed the 1st set victory for the Taft-based squad.
The Lady Spikers and the Lady Eagles went tit-for-tat early in the second frame, with the score tied at 8-all. Ateneo seemed to even the match as they were up 24-20. However, La Salle displayed an epic comeback as Kim Dy steals the set for DLSU, 28-26.
In the third set, ADMU did not throw in the towel just yet, as Alyssa Valdez carried the load for Coach Bundit’s crew, pushing the lead to 10-6. A combination play for La Salle brought them back into game and was able to cut the lead to four, 15-19. The Lady Eagles repelled a comeback from the Lady Spikers as they went on to win the set, 25-17.
Valdez and company lifted their momentum into the fourth period. Cyd Demecillo hits it straight into net to yield the set to Ateneo, 25-16.
In the final set, the Lady Spikers played catch up to the spikers from Katipunan as Valdez once again daggered a kill, 11-7, in favor of Ateneo. La Salle rallied back to cut the deficit to two, 11-13. De Leon though scored the winning point for the Lady Eagles, 15-11.
Dy led the scoring for DLSU, tallying 16 points. Reyes chipped in 14 while Galang notched 12 markers.
Winner-take-all game three will be on Saturday, 3:30pm, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Come and support the Lady Spikers as they try to put an end to the Ateneo dynasty; to gun for their 9th UAAP Women’s Volleyball crown and most importantly, to finally redeem their lost glory.