Ateneo rode on the momentum of its playoff romp over San Sebastian as it shocked top seed Far Eastern U, 25-14, 28-26, 25-22, yesterday at the Philsports Arena to move closer to the Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference Finals in the post Alyssa Valdez-era.
The Lady Eagles dished out a superb all-around game all throughout, coming up with solid spikes, big digs and saves while pouncing on Bernadeth Pons’ sidelining to dominate the opening frame then came back from 21-24 down in the second to steal the set before stamping their class in the third to take the opener of their best-of-three semis series in the mid-season conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.
The win avenged Ateneo’s three-straight loss to FEU in the last quarterfinals playdate that dropped the two-time champion Lady Eagles to a playoff for the last semis seat with the Lady Stags, whom they smothered in three last Saturday.
The Loyola-based spikers sustained their form in their return bout with the Lady Tams while cashing in on Pons’ absence to pound out the victory.
Pons, who scored 10 hits in FEU’s win over Ateneo last week, was supposed to help anchor the team’s bid but sprained her left ankle during warm-up and failed to see action.
Skipper Michelle Morente and Bea de Leon came away with 13 hits apiece while Kim Gequillna and Ana Gopico backed them up with 12 and 11 points, respectively.