Valdez powers UAAP-PH spikers over Malaysia to open AUG bid

MANILA, Philippines – Team UAAP-Philippines is off to a flying start in the 17th ASEAN University Games as its women's volleyball team, represented by standouts from champion Ateneo, overcame a third set loss to turn back Malaysia, 25-21, 18-25, 15-25, 25-8, Tuesday at the Palembang Sport and Convention Center in Palembang, Indonesia.

The Philippines was dominant in the fourth frame behind UAAP MVP Alyssa Valdez to book its first win in the five-team tournament.

Valdez scored all 20 hits from spikes while Bea de Leon, Ella de Jesus and Jho Maraguinot added 12 and eight points, respectively.

The Filipina spikers will face Indonesia at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

After a one-day rest Thursday, Team-UAAP Philippines will take on Thailand on Friday before wrapping up its preliminaries assignments against Singapore on Saturday.

With the Thais dominating the Singaporeans in the opener, the Filipina spikers have a strong chance in achieving a podium finish.

Thailand, which finished second in 2012, is tipped to win the event as it boasts of three former guest players in the Philippine club leagues in Lek Thipachot, Soraya Phomla and Wanida Kotruang.

Aside from the women's volleyball squad, the 86-man Team UAAP-Philippines will also compete in swimming, taekwondo, athletics and table tennis.

By amassing two golds, 12 silvers and 16 bronzes two years ago in Laos, the PH student-athletes finished seventh in the biennial meet organized by the Asean University Sports Council.

The Team UAAP-Philippines golden finishes came from taekwondo jins Christian Al dela Cruz and Ernest John Mendoza of University of Santo Tomas.

Malaysia claimed the overall title two years ago with a 60-45-70 haul, followed by Vietnam (56-35-28) and 2010 champion Thailand (42-51-55).

Indonesia wound up fourth (41-52-57), followed by host Laos (30-34-44) and Singapore (3-6-23).

Since the inauguration of the AUG in 1981, Indonesia emerged overall champion for a record 10 times, followed by Thailand (three), Malaysia (two) and Vietnam (one).

National University's Nilo Ocampo is the delegation's chef de mission along with Ateneo's Em Fernandez, Timmy Sto. Tomas and Joselito Urian.

The 11-day conclave will end on Dec. 19.