UAAP Volleyball: All Week 1 Team
Week 1 of the much-awaited 75th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament has passed and we’ve seen some impressive performances by your favorite belles. We pick some of them in this list:
Setter Loren Lantin, UST (4.0 points, 32.0 excellent sets)
Lantin has proven to be a worthy successor to Rhea Dimaculangan’s throne, leading the league in setting after two games with an average of 7.11 excellent sets per frame. Then again, consistency will be the issue for this pretty playmaker, who has shown flashes of brilliance while subbing in for Dimac last season.
Outside Rose Vargas, FEU (24.0 points, 22.0 hits, 1.0 blocks, 1.0 aces)
She’s shed some pounds but Vargas has retained the power that made her last year’s Best Scorer awardee. Vargas punished Ateneo with 24 points and has been more accurate this time, nailing 40% of her attempts as the Lady Tamaraws pushed their more fancied foes to five sets.
Outside Alyssa Valdez, ADMU (18.0 points, 16.0 hits, 0.5 blocks, 1.5 aces)
Valdez almost singlehandedly carried Ateneo back in the game against FEU, scoring 26 points while playing in different positions. There’s no denying “The Phenom” possesses power like very few have in the UAAP, and fortunately for the Lady Eagles’ flock of fans, she’s putting it to good use.
Middle Dindin Santiago, NU (23.5 points, 17.0 hits, 2.0 blocks, 4.5 aces)
In a preview we wrote for the UAAP’s official website, we said that Santiago is probably the most talented college volleyball spiker we have now. And if the early returns are to be believed, this towering hitter from NU has proven us right. She’s contributing on all ends and was instrumental in changing the Lady Bulldogs’ status from pretenders to contenders.
Middle Pau Soriano, ADU (21.0 points, 17.0 hits, 4.0 blocks)
Aside from NU’s dozens of errors, Pau Soriano was the only reason why Adamson opened their season with a win. The veteran, now on her last playing year, kicked her swan song off with a blast, delivering a performance that has some people buzzing MVP if the Lady Falcons make it to the Final Four.
Opposite Myla Pablo, NU (17.5 points, 15.5 points, 2.0 blocks)
Pablo is finally realizing the potential she flashed during the Palarong Pambansa a couple of years ago, when scouts drooled over her talent. She has improved a lot, especially with her attacks and blocking.
Libero Jen Reyes, NU (16.5 digs, 18.5 excellent receptions, 38.2% efficiency)
Yes, she’s back. After sitting out a season, Reyes returned to her usual perch as the league’s top libero. She has solved what gave the Lady Bulldogs so much headache last season: reception problems.
