The La Salle Lady Archers hit it right on target – through the hearts of the UST Tigresses — as the reigning back-to-back UAAP champions fashioned out a surprisingly one-sided 25-14, 25-18, 25-23 victory yesterday to capture the Shakey’s V-League second conference crown.
Sure, the crowd that amazingly packed the Rizal Coliseum did expect another thriller of a match, like the one the Lady Archers and the Tigresses dished out in the opener of the best-of-three series last Thursday, which the former took via come-from-behind fashion – 27-29, 17-25, 25-22, 25-23, 15-7.
But La Salle, banking on superb net defense, was in no mood to play it soft and instead gave UST little room to operate to complete the sweep that avenged the Lady Archers’ loss to the Tigresses in last year’s inaugural staging of the tournament sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.
Contented on playing second fiddle to crowd darling Michelle Carolino most of the conference, skipper Maureen Penetrante finally played the game expected of a player of her caliber, smashing a game-high 17 hits, including 10 kills, to power the Lady Archers to the title romp, 2-0.
And Carolino’s six blocks at the end of the 1:16-hour encounter underscored La Salle’s superb coverage of the net that held the Tigresses to 35 attacks compared to the Lady Archers’ total output of 44.
"Our defense was great today especially at the net," said La Salle assistant coach Oliver Almadro, who took over the coaching reins after head coach Ramil de Jesus was sidelined by chicken pox following their victory in Game One.
"We’re dedicating this victory to our coach," said the 21-year-old Penetrante.
Carolino, cheered on by over 6,000 fans – a record for the fledgling league staged by the Sports Vision Management Group, Inc. to relive the glory days of women’s volleyball — was in her elements all day, hammering 14 points she spiked with 14 kills as she ran away with the conference MVP honors.
Not to be outdone, younger sister Mayette Carolino also tossed in 10 hits for La Salle, which thus re-staked its claim as the top collegiate squad in the land today.
Roxanne Pimentel, who was named the conference’s best attacker, led the Tigresses with 12 hits but she was obviously far from her top form, probably bothered by a right ankle injury she sustained early in the deciding set of Game One of the series co-presented by Dunkin’ Donuts, HBC Home of Beauty Exclusives, Smart and PLDT and Mikasa and Accel as official volleyball and outfitter, respectively, and Angel Zamora & Sons.
Pimentel, however, took the loss in stride.
"Okay lang, hindi naman ako naapektuhan," said Pimentel, who powered the España-based netters to a pair of UAAP title romps in the early 1990s.
Earlier, Letran downed Philippine Sports Commission, 25-22, 25-21, 18-25, 25-20, to clinch third place honors.
Cherry Rose Macatangay unleashed another monster game with 27 hits she laced with 20 kills while Joan Botor-Carpio, Bangladesh Pantaleon and Dianne Diaz chipped in 14, 10 and 10 points, respectively, for the Lady Knights, who also completed a two-game sweep.