UAAP

Games On Saturday
(PhilSports Arena, Pasig City)
9 a.m. — ADMU vs UE
11 a.m. — UST vs AdU
3 p.m. — FEU vs UP
5 p.m. — DLSU vs NU

VENGEFUL De La Salle University (DLSU) slammed the door, hard and loud, on reigning champion National University (NU) in a highly-anticipated rematch with a convincing 25-10, 25-15, 25-21 win to complete a first-round sweep in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on March 22 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Behind a mighty, impenetrable net wall all-match long, the Lady Spikers denied any access for the usual unstoppable Lady Bulldogs and caged them for good for a resounding ender to their unblemished first-round campaign at 7-0.

The Lady Spikers cut the Lady Bulldogs down to size, by virtue of 12 blocks, in only 89 minutes — which in the process fulfilled a full reversal after bowing to NU last season in four games without a single set win.

Prized neophyte Angel Canino proved as one of the glaring differences this time, standing her own in the battle of the titans with 14 points on 11 kills plus eight receptions as De La Salle gained a first-round sweep for the first time since Season 76.

Fifi Sharma (12) and Thea Gagate (9) led the block party with three swats apiece as seasoned spiker Jolina Dela Cruz had 11 points and 10 digs highlighted by a hammering crosscourt kill to end the match.

“The team played with pride,” said interim coach Noel Orcullo as De La Salle became part of NU’s perfect 16-0 champion run last season.

“We’re a different team this year, not the same team in Season 84.”

Mr. Orcullo added that head coach Ramil de Jesus, who’s on hiatus due to undisclosed reasons, gave the team a pep talk before their departure to the game that further lit the burning fire in DLSU.

The Lady Spikers since then proved to be women on a mission, raining it down on the Lady Bulldogs with complete domination in the first two frames before having just enough steam in the clincher. DLSU only trailed twice, 1-3 in the first and 14-15 in the third set, in the duel that turned to a bloodbath from an expected tight battle.

Reigning MVP Mhicaela Belen (12) was the only twin-digit scorer in the disappointing loss for NU, which slid to 5-2 for a triple-tie with Adamson University (AdU) and University of Santo Tomas (UST).

Earlier, Kate Santiago unloaded 16 points as Adamson (5-2) hardly broke a sweat against University of the Philippines (1-6), 25-18, 25-17, 25-23 to join a crowded second spot. Adamson (1-6) also scored a 25-16, 25-19, 25-22 win over UP (0-7) for its first win in the men’s division. — John Bryan Ulanday

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