Lady Spikers rebound, turn back Lady Tams

Games on Saturday (Filoil Arena, San Juan)?

2 p.m. – UE vs FEU (women’s)?

4 p.m. – AdU vs UST (women’s)

MANILA, Philippines - La Salle got back on track as it hacked out a 25-17, 27-29, 25-13, 25-9 victory over Far Eastern U yesterday at the start of second round action in the UAAP Season 77 women’s volleyball tourney at the MOA Arena.

Ara Galang led the way with 17 points, including 16 kills, while Cyd Demicillo added 13 and Mika Reyes and Kim Fajardo each contributed 10 as the Lady Spikers rebounded from their five-set loss to Ateneo at the end of the first round and improved to 7-1.

“Nag-evaluation kami after the first round at nag-usap-usap. Sinabi ko sa kanila na matuto tayo sa pagkakamali at maitama ang mali (We made an evaluation after the first round and agreed to learn from our mistakes and correct them in the second round),” said DLSU coach Ramil de Jesus.

The Lady Spikers also got a big lift from Carol Ann Cerveza, who accounted for eight points, doing the most damage in the fourth, where the Lady Spikers really imposed their will on the Lady Tams.

“Naging effective si Cerveza. Hindi masyado nag dieta si Ara sa bola (Cerveza played effectively and eased the burden on Galang),” said de Jesus. 

Bernadette Pons had 13 hits for the Lady Tamaraws, who slipped to 3-5 for sixth place.

Earlier, University of the Philippines picked up its second straight win via a 25-17, 25-13, 25-21 disposal of lightweight University of the East to hike its record to an even 4-4.

Nicole Tiamzon scored 12 points and Angeli Araneta added eight and Marian Buitre, tipped to fill in the shoes of ACL-hit star Kathy Bersola, chipped in seven as the Lady Maroons soared to fourth spot.

UP is adjusting to life without Bersola, the league’s top blocker. They were outblocked by UE, 2-4, but made up for it by punching in 34 kills against the Lady Warriors’ 24.

“Hindi kami maka-block, yun ang obvious na nawala sa amin, although nakabawi sa opensa (We obviously lost our blocking with Bersola out but compensated with our offense),” said UP coach Jerry Yee, whose crew has posted probably the most number of wins for State U in a season in a long while.

Leuseht Dawis and Judith Abith paced UE, which slipped to 0-8 and stretched its losing skein to 39 games dating back to Season 74, with seven each.