By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles ended their UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball campaign with a 25-21, 23-25, 25-16, 27-25 victory over the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, April 26.
Negrense Jihan Chuatico led the way with 16 points on 11 attacks, four blocks and a service ace, as the Blue Eagles wrapped up their season in seventh place with a 5-9 win-loss record.
Lyann de Guzman and Alexa Miner added 13 markers apiece, both coming from 11 attacks and two blocks.
Negrense Alex Montoro contributed 11 points, from eight attacks and three aces, for Ateneo.
Down 16-22 in the fourth set, the Blue Eagles took advantage of consecutive errors from the Lady Warriors and connections from De Guzman, Montoro and Miner to close their season on a winning note.
“We didn’t play so well in our technique, but our team never gave up. Like in the last set, UE had a good opportunity to win that fourth set, but our team continuously fought,” Ateneo head coach Sergio Veloso said after the game.
Nessa Bangayan tallied 16 points, while Khy Cepada and Kayce Balingit had 14 and 13 points, respectively, for the Lady Warriors, who ended their campaign winless in 14 games, mirroring the performance of their men’s team.
Meanwhile, the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws prevailed over the De La Salle University Lady Spikers, 25-20, 28-26, 20-25, 25-23, to keep their hopes of a twice-to-beat incentive alive.
The Lady Tamaraws found themselves trailing 21-22 in the fourth set when Faida Bakanke scored to equalize the match.
They then took a 24-22 lead following an error by Shevana Laput of the Lady Spikers and a successful attack by Lovely Lopez.
The Lady Spikers managed to save the game at 23-24 with a point from Angel Canino, but the Lady Tamaraws sealed their victory with a crosscourt hit from Lopez set up by Tin Ubaldo.
Gerzel Petallo led the Lady Tamaraws with 19 points, including 16 attacks, two service aces and one block, along with 11 excellent receptions and eight excellent digs, as they tied the Lady Spikers at 9-5./ASC, WDJ