By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Negrense Diza Berayo delivered a breakout performance to power National University-Nazareth School (NUNS) past Far Eastern University (FEU)-Diliman in the UAAP Season 88 high school girls’ volleyball tournament at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Berayo erupted for a season-best 26 points built on 24 kills and eight digs, leading the Lady Bullpups to a 17-25, 25-12, 25-21, 25-17 victory that kept them perfect at 3-0.
“Kailangan naming maayos siguro ‘yung discipline pagdating sa game from start to end. Kailangan nandun pa rin [and] same intensity,” NUNS head coach Karl Dimaculangan said.
“Actually, sobrang challenging sa amin kasi parang five players [from the team] kasama rin sa Asian Youth Games, so ‘yung training medyo hati pa. Kailangan naming ma-balance ‘yung preparation ng UAAP sa next game, and ‘yung preparation namin sa Asian Youth Games,” he added.
The defending champions broke loose in the fourth set with an 8-0 run to seize control at 17-10, capped by two service aces from Akeyla Bartolabac.
Berayo later finished the job with a kill through the block for the win.
The Adamson University Lady Baby Falcons then joined NUNS at the top after pulling off a reverse sweep against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Junior Golden Tigresses, 18-25, 15-25, 25-23, 27-25, 15-11.
“Based on the situation … sobrang hirap kami talaga sa first and second set. Sabi ko sa mga bata, ‘Kaya natin manalo, matatrabaho natin. Balik tayo doon sa pinag-aralan natin, sa training natin, and then kailangan lang natin i-execute nang maayos.’ So na-execute naman nang maayos [at] tinapangan ng mga bata, especially ‘yung puso tsaka ‘yung mind talaga nila is maayos,” Adamson head coach JP Yude said.
“Itong game na ‘to is napakalaking boost talaga sa confidence ng mga bata kasi, sa unang part, down na eh. Nada-down na sila eh. So ngayon, nakita na nila capability nila na kaya nila manalo kahit ang lalaki ng mga kalaban namin then ang lalakas din, ang gaganda nila mag-serve,” he added.
Ellaine Gonzalvo led the Lady Baby Falcons with 22 points and 11 digs, while Kristal Martin and Francheska Adem combined for 32.
UST fell to 1-2 despite 17 points from Pelaez.
Meanwhile, University of the Philippines Integrated School returned to the win column after surviving Ateneo de Manila University in five sets, 22-25, 25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 15-13.
Niña Abad topscored with 18 points, while Elisha Capus and Anya Callo added 12 each.
Ateneo, now 0-3, was paced by Gian Damian with 17 markers.
De La Salle Zobel also improved to 2-1 after dominating University of the East (UE), 25-6, 25-8, 25-9, in just 50 minutes.
Jelliane Laborte had 14 points, while Justise Macasaet tallied 12 with seven aces.
UE slipped to 0-3./ASC, WDJ