By Alder T. Almo
11 December 2009 09:39 PM
Manila, Philippines – Defending champion De La Salle University continued its hot start as it blanked arch-rival Ateneo de Manila University in straight set, 25-17, 28-26, 25-23, in the UAAP Season 72 Volleyball tournament on Friday at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The troika of veterans Stephanie Mercado, Charleen Cruz and Jacq Alarca sizzled all game long as the Lady Archers run away with their second straight win in as many starts.
Mercado, daughter of former Asia’s Sprint Queen Lydia de Vega-Mercado, dished out a fitting follow up to her career game against UST the last time out with 17 hits this time. She scored 28 points in DLSU’s win in its season opener last Tuesday.
Cruz and Alarca chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively for the Lady Archers who only needed 1 hour and 15 minutes to dispose the Lady Eagles.
Dzi Gervacio scored 13 hits while Fille Cainglet added 10 for the Lady Eagles, who absorbed their first loss in two games.
UST, meanwhile, recovered from the heartbreaking 2-3 setback at the hands of DLSU in its debut with a smashing straight set victory against UP Diliman, 25-18, 25-15, 25-20.
Rookie wonder Maru Banaticla and veteran Maika Ortiz led the Tigresses with 14 and 13 hits, respectively. Team captain Aiza Maizo, who captured the Shakey’s V League conference and Finals MVP, wound up with only 7 points in just 2 sets of action.
In the other matches, Far Eastern University recovered from six points down in the fourth set to finish off the University of the East, 25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 26-24.
The Lady Warriors led 23-17 on a couple of service aces from rookie Francesca Crescini to move closer to forcing a deciding fifth set.
The Lady Tamaraws, however, fought back behind veteran Cherry Vivas, who hit four of the match’s last five points in a great escape act.
Shaira Gonzales and Vivas stepped into the spots vacated by ace spikers Rachel Ann Daquis and Maika Morada as the former tallied a career-high 27 hits while the latter added 26 points. It was FEU’s first win of the season bouncing back from a straight set defeat to Adamson last Sunday.
In the first match, Adamson continued its unblemished run with another straight set win against lowly National University.
Pau Soriano and Jill Gustillo led the Lady Falcons anew with 12 points each in an easy 25-10, 25-20, 25-12 win to keep the top spot with DLSU.
Action shifts back to the Blue Eagle Gym in Ateneo tomorrow (Saturday) with a heavy four-bill action in the men’s division.
UST will stake its winning streak against Ateneo at 9 a.m. UE and FEU meets at 11 a.m. while afternoon matches will pit DLSU and UP Diliman (2 p.m.) and Adamson and NU (4 p.m.)
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