LADY EAGLES DENY LADY MAROONS OF POSSIBLE FIRST ROUND SWEEP
By Ardyn Gonzales
26 February 2017
No stepladder semifinals this season as the erstwhile undefeated UP Lady Maroons ran out of gas and got swept in the first round of the Battle of Katipunan by the streaking Ateneo Lady Eagles, 25-14, 25-19, 25-21, February 26, Sunday at the FilOil Flying-V Arena in San Juan in front of a 3,500-strong crowd.
UP and Ateneo are currently the two best serving teams in the league, so it was just a matter of which team would be able to destroy the first ball of the other.
Ateneo had only two more aces than UP, but it was exclusive of the many misreceptions the Lady Maroons had that prevented them from executing their plays.
Team captain Jia Morado orchestrated the game for Ateneo, dishing out 38 excellent sets that were well-distributed as Maraguinot, Morente, de Leon, Tolentino and Madayag all had their moments, combining for 40 attack points with 53% efficiency.
It was obvious that Ateneo was targeting Isa Molde in their service, but despite the loss, Isa Molde delivered and was all over the stats with 8 attacks, 1 block, 3 service aces, 7 digs, and 19 excellent receptions. UP veterans Nicole Tiamzon and Kathy Bersola were held down to just 4 and 3 points respectively.
UP needs to recover quickly as they still have FEU and NU in their schedule while Ateneo braces for the Finals rematch against La Salle on March 5 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Both teams currently have 5-1 records and are tied at number one spot.
Player of the Game: Jia Morado, 38 excellent sets, 6 points (5 service aces and 1 attack)
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