Valdez unloads 30 pts as Ateneo bucks tough AdU

Games on Saturday (Filoil Arena)

2 p.m. – AdMU vs UP

4 p.m. – NU vs DLSU

MANILA, Philippines - Alyssa Valdez punched in a season-high 30 points as defending champion Ateneo survived the tough challenge of Adamson, 25-21, 17-25, 25-14, 22-25, 15-10, to keep its unbeaten slate intact yesterday in the UAAP Season 77 women’s volleyball tourney at the MOA Arena.

Stretched to the limit by a game Lady Falcons side, the Lady Eagles drew big plays from skipper Valdez, Amy Ahomiro and Denden Lazaro to break away from a 9-9 standoff in the decider and pick up their ninth straight win.

“They (Adamson) always give a good fight, as in everytime since I started playing college volleyball. Their defense was super superb,” said Valdez, 14 digs as well as four aces in another stellar performance that pushed Valdez got needed scoring support from Ahomiro and Ella de Jesus, who added 12 apiece, and Lazaro, who made 16 excellent receptions as Ateneo  closed in on the Final Four.

Jessica Galanza, Amanda Villanueva and Mylene Paat combined for 48 markers in a losing cause for AdU, now at sixth spot with a 3-6 record.

Rejuvenated University of Santo Tomas stretched its win streak to three as it crushed skidding National U in straight sets, 25-22, 25-19, 25-18, to forge a four-way tie for third at 4-5.

Diminutive Cebuana rookie Cherry Rondina came off the bench to score a game-high 15 points as the Tigresses caught up with the Lady Bulldogs and idle Far Eastern and University of the Philippines in a heavy logjam just behind 1-2 Ateneo and La Salle.

“Umaangat kami at maganda ang mindset ng mga bata na nananalo sila (Our performance is improving and the players are gaining confidence and getting a good mindset from our victories),” said UST coach Odjie Mamon.

The Tigresses had a horrendous 2-5 start and eyed payback against their first round tormentors in an effort to revive their sagging bid for the semis.

“Isa ito sa mga nasa revenge list namin kaya sige, check, check (NU is part of our revenge list so it’s another check mark),” said Mamon. “Yun ang kailangan eh, para makasali kami sa Final Four (We need the wins to reach the Final Four). Pero (But) we take it one game at a time.”