MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo bucked the absence of libero Denden Lazaro as it waylaid a listless Southwestern U, 25-13, 25-18, 25-20, to get back on track in the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 First Conference before a big Sunday crowd at The Arena in San Juan City.
The Lady Eagles found no need for Lazaro, who took an exam at a medical school and didn’t see action, and her pesky defense as they simply dominated the reigning Cebu champions in all departments all game.
With top hitter Alyssa Valdez given a rest in the third set, Amy Ahomiro took over and fired 13 points while the rest foiled the Lady Cobras’ series of attacks with 29 excellent digs, putting the reigning UAAP champions in step with the Adamson Lady Falcons at second at 2-1 behind the Arellano U Lady Chiefs’ 3-0 card.
University of Santo Tomas also muddled up the quarterfinal race in Group B as it trounced Far Eastern U, 25-15, 19-25, 25-18, 25-13, to force a three-way tie for second with San Sebastian at 1-1 behind National U’s pacesetting 2-0 slate.
Rookie Ennajie Laure followed up her sterling 23-hit output against NU with a 17-point performance, including three aces, while Jessey de Leon, Pam Lastimosa and Eiriel Cortez added 16, 15 and 11 points, respectively, for the six-time champion Tigresses.
UST clobbered FEU in spikes, coming through with 60 as the Lady Tams could only produce 40, including a combined 25-kill output from Bernadette Pons and Marie Simborio.
Coach Parley Tupas saw no need to use Valdez in the third after the Lady Eagles swept the first two sets in emphatic fashion with Ahomiro and the rest finishing off the Lady Cobras in one hour and four minutes.
“It’s defending by committee,†said Tupas, who took over from Thai head coach Anusorn “Tai†Bundit, who steered the Lady Eagles to the improbable title run in the last UAAP season, in Filipino.