Games Wednesday (The Arena, San Juan City)
2 p.m. — UST vs Adamson (Men’s)
(Knockout match, No. 4 spot)
Game Saturday (Mall of Asia Arena)
2 p.m. — FEU vs Ateneo (Men’s)
4 p.m. — FEU vs Ateneo (Women’s)
Defending champion De La Salle denied Ateneo’s bid for a Top 2 finish by scoring a dominant 26-24, 25-17, 25-19 victory last night as the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball elimination round drew to a close inside a jampacked Mall of Asia Arena.
Reigning league MVP Majoy Baron, Kim Dy and Tin Tiamzon took turns in taking up the cudgels while vastly-improving setter Michelle Cobb kept her teammates on the same page and backup Norielle Ipac provided timely hits as the Lady Spikers stamped their class over the Lady Eagles in front of more than 23, 200 fans mostly clad in green and blue.
Already assured of the top spot and a twice-to-beat advantage in the semis, De La Salle closed out the elimination round with a 12-2 record and completed a season-sweep of the Lady Eagles following a four-set victory in the first round last March 3.
“It was a fight for pride as usual,” said the diminutive Cobb, who made 24 excellent sets and tallied seven points. “It’s also a (confidence) booster for us going to the semis (against National University).
The loss proved a bitter pill to swallow for Ateneo, which suffered its fifth setback in 14 matches and slipped down to third spot, allowing host Far Eastern University to cement its hold of second place with their 10-4 card and claim the remaining twice-to-beat edge, their first since Season 71.
The Lady Tamaraws bounced back from a third-set meltdown in style to foil the Lady Bulldogs, 25-21, 25-22, 16-25, 20-25.
NU, which got off to a sizzling 6-1 start in the tourney, hobbled its way to the semis as the fourth-seed with an even 7-7 slate and will need to overcome a twice-to-beat advantage enjoyed by top-ranked La Salle.
In men’s play, formidable NU finally put one over three-time defending champion Ateneo, 25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 25-19, to claim the top spot in the Final Four round.
