Lady Eagles whip Bulldogs, Gorayeb; Lady Spikers win

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Ateneo continued its rampage in the UAAP Season 77 women’s volleyball tourney, extracting its eighth straight victory from its former coach Roger Gorayeb and his new team National University, 25-18, 25-21, 25-22 yesterday at a packed Filoil Arena.

The Lady Eagles scored 15 unanswered points after the first technical timeout in the opening set to seize control and lay the foundation for the straight-sets victory before close to 4,000 fans.

Alyssa Valdez punched in 20 points, including 18 hits, to lead the team past NU (4-4), which absorbed its first loss after a 2-0 start under Gorayeb.

“It’s parang weird na nasa kabilang side siya ng court; three years ko syang naging coach, ngayon nasa kabilang team na (It’s somehow weird seeing coach Gorayeb on the other side of the court, having been under him for three years),” said Valdez.

“Pero all throughout the game, maalala mo rin iyung mga natutunan mo sa kanya and sobrang inspiring kasi parang nagkasama-sama uli kami (I remembered the things I learned from him and it’s inspiring because we had a reunion of sorts in the game),” she added.

Amy Ahomiro (10 markers) and Jhoana Maraguinot (eight) helped Valdez in offense.

Earlier, Eli Soyud provided the spark as La Salle overcame a tough University of the Philippines, 25-27, 25-20, 25-23, 25-10, to hike its record to 8-1.

Soyud, a utility player whom coach Ramil de Jesus decided to use as an open hitter to relieve regular Cyd Demecillo, anchored the Lady Spikers’ attacks with a career-high 16 points.

“Soyud only started to practice in that position two days so I’m surprised she performed well immediately,” said De Jesus.

Top scorer Ara Galang played second fiddle this time with 14 markers even as DLSU drew 13 markers from Mary Joy Baron and eight points and a whopping 50 excellent sets from Kim Fajardo to get the job done.

The Lady Maroons fought the Lady Spikers toe-to-toe in the first three sets before fading in the fourth.

“Iyung floor defense ng UP sobrang tibay (UP’s floor defense was really solid),” said de Jesus.