^

Sports

LS belles show stuff of champs

- Joey Villar -
Playing as if to prove something, reigning UAAP champion La Salle swamped San Sebastian College with a barrage of kills and pulled off a straight-set 25-23, 25-15, 25-20 victory yesterday to close in on fancied University of Santo Tomas in the Shakey’s V-League at the Lyceum Gym.

Outside spiker Manilla Santos delivered the most lethal blows with 13 points on the attack as she powered the pretty Lady Archers to the rousing victory, their third following an opening game loss to the Tigresses.

"Sabi ko nga sa
players ko kailangang ipakita namin kung bakit kami ang champion sa UAAP, kailangang patunayan talaga namin," said La Salle coach Ramil de Jesus, who steered his team to two UAAP volleyball crowns in his eight seasons with the school.

The Taft-based netters thus seized solo second place with a 3-1 (win-loss) slate, just behind the Tigresses‚ who remained unbeaten after four games.

SSC top setter Elena Mayo came back from a bout with measles but her presence proved not enough to lift his team’s spirit and prevent the Lady Stags from absorbing a second straight setback after sweeping their first two games in the event sponsored by Shakey’s and organized by Sports Vision Management Group, Inc.

Santos, a 19-year-old third year business management student, was a dominating force at the net as she unleashed a barrage of kills, including a pair of crucial ones late in the first set to turn a 21-22 deficit into a big victory.

The La Salle netters then pounced on an erratic San Sebastian side in the next frame and coasted to an easy win, only to find themselves faced with a tougher set of rivals in the third set.

San Sebastian, which won 15 of the last 18 NCAA titles, rallied from a 9-14 deficit to wrest a 18-17 lead, thanks mostly to the jump-serving Jeanne Espolong and the power-hitting duo of Jinni Mondejar and Angela Descalsota.

But it turned out to be San Sebastian’s last show of force as Santos smashed through the frontal defense of Mondejar and 5’-11" Charisma Libunao with a pair of crisp kills to cap the La Salle’s domination.

And Santos’ awesome effort came at a time when La Salle’s top hitter Desiree Hernandez, the 2003 UAAP MVP, played far from her top form.

"She stepped up for us in this game, she really played big," said De Jesus of Santos.

"Sakto pa naman dahil magkakasakit ‘yung
top player ko," he added referring to Hernandez, who struggled all game after complaining of an impending bout with flu.

CHARISMA LIBUNAO

DE JESUS OF SANTOS

DESIREE HERNANDEZ

ELENA MAYO

JEANNE ESPOLONG

JINNI MONDEJAR AND ANGELA DESCALSOTA

LA SALLE

LADY ARCHERS

LADY STAGS

LYCEUM GYM

SAN SEBASTIAN

  • Latest
  • Trending
Latest
Latest
abtest
Are you sure you want to log out?
X
Login

Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!

Get Updated:

Signup for the News Round now

FORGOT PASSWORD?
SIGN IN
or sign in with