By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers turned back the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 25-22, 24-26, 25-18, 25-17, in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Sunday, March 2.

Negrense Angel Canino top-scored with 24 points on 20 attacks and four blocks, to go with five excellent digs and four excellent receptions, as the Lady Spikers improved to a 2-2 win-loss slate.

Shevana Laput added 21 markers on 15 attacks, three blocks and three service aces, while rookie Lilay del Castillo contributed 11 markers on four blocks, four aces and three attacks for DLSU.

Down 3-8 early in the third set, the Lady Spikers turned things around with a 22-10 scoring blast behind Canino, Laput and Del Castillo to take a 2-1 set advantage.

Both teams got into a tight battle early in the fourth set with the score tied at 13-all before the Lady Spikers pulled away for good with connections from Laput, Del Castillo and Shane Raterta.

Antiquena Irah Jaboneta top-scored with 15 points, while Negrense Joan Marie Monares added 10 markers as the Fighting Maroons dropped to a 2-2 record.

Meanwhile, the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws broke free from a two-game slump by surviving the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, 25-15, 20-25, 25-17, 24-26, 15-11.

Knotted at 9-all in the fifth set, Tin Ubaldo and Faida Bakanke strung together four straight points, including the latter’s back-to-back blocks on Ateneo main gunner Lyann de Guzman to establish a 13-9 advantage.

Bakanke then finished the match with a down-the-line hit for the Lady Tamaraws’ second win in four outings after two hours and 25 minutes.

Gerzel Petallo contributed 18 points on 14 attacks and four blocks, along with 14 receptions and nine digs to lead the Lady Tamaraws, while Bakanke and Mitzi Panangin had 15 and 11, respectively./ASC, WDJ