MANILA, Philippines -- Where Alyssa Valdez goes, Ateneo follows.
Showing she's the reigning MVP, Valdez came through with another dominating performance as she powered the Lady Eagles to a 25-23, 25-21, 25-23 victory over the Far Eastern University Lady Tams Wednesday to extend their amazing streak to 11 in the 77th UAAP volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.
The power-hitting Valdez, considered as the best and most popular volleyball player in the country today, unleashed a match-best 23 kills, 21 of which coming off kills to help preserve the Loyola-based spikers' clean slate.
The win thus sent Ateneo three wins away from sweeping the double-round elimination as its last three foes are against University of Santo Tomas on Feb. 11 at the MOA Arena, University of the East on Feb. 15 at the Big Dome and arch-rival La Salle on Feb. 22 also at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
A sweep would catapult the Lady Eagles straight to the finals where they will enjoy a "thrice-to-beat" advantage where they will need only two victories to crown themselves champions while the challenger will need three to unseat the former.
One single loss by Ateneo will send the league into a Final Four where the top two teams will only earn a twice-to-beat edge entering the best-of-three finale.
The loss sent FEU from a four-way logjam at fourth with NU, State University and Adamson, which possess identical 4-6 slates, to second to last with a 4-7 (win-loss) record.
In the other game, La Salle overpowered Santo Tomas, 25-21, 25-9, 25-18, to remain just a game behind Ateneo with a 10-1 mark.
The Lady Archers also snapped the Tigresses' four-game streak that catapulted from second to last to solo third.
UST remained perched at No. 3 despite absorbing its sixth defeat against five wins.
In men's volleyball earlier, La Salle pulled the rug from under Peter Torres and defending champion National University with a shock 26-24, 25-19, 25-22 triumph.
The other result saw FEU downing Adamson, 22-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-23.