Ateneo forces The Final Showdown against La Salle for the UAAP Women’s Volleyball crown

Maybe it was controversial, but the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) Lady Eagles got the result they sought. And now The Final Showdown looms as the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers are down to their final chance at winning a fourth consecutive UAAP Women’s Volleyball title. It will be an all out war at the Mall of Asia Arena this Saturday (March 15th).

Game time is at 4:00PM.

Just to recap what some of you may have missed, La Salle—like in Game 2—stormed out of the gates aggressive and driven. Former league co-MVP Ara Galang set a blistering pace as she not only detonated attacks from almost all angles but also made statement after statement on defense—both at the net and on the floor.

On the other side of the fence, newly crowned league MVP Alyssa Valdez started a little on the overzealous side as her attacks went awry even during single blocking from DLSU. After the second technical timeout, she found her stroke and got much needed support from “Kiwi” Amy Ahomiro and a resurgent Michelle Morente.

An early timeout called by Lady Spikers’ Head Coach Ramil de Jesus came back to bite DLSU as he couldn’t call a ceasefire to stop the Lady Eagles late onslaught and Ateneo came from behind to snatch the opener 25-21.

ALSO READ: "MANNY" the documentary rekindles old Pacquiao magic

At the start of the second set, La Salle was once again on the warpath as they opened up a luxurious 9-5 edge as their defense once again kept the Lady Eagles in check. But then Morente started infiltrating the DLSU net defenses from different sides of the court; opening up more room for Valdez and in what seemed to be a blink of an eye, Ateneo surged ahead 12-10; with reserve quicker Marge Tejada punctuating the 7-1 with a block point.

After that, it turned into a game of one team trying outlast the other until the Lady Eagles found themselves at set point anew, 24-21. Cyd Demecillo started becoming a factor with two straight points prompting Ateneo mentor Anusorn “Tai” Bundit to sue for time and halt the momentum.

It worked.

Ahomiro delivered the killing blow and for the first time this season, the Lady Spikers found themselves in an 0-2 hole after Ateneo claimed the second set 25-23.

The Animo faithful—especially those on social media—were quick to recall how the Lady Eagles pulled off the same feat during Game 1 of last year’s Best-Of-Three titular series only to surrender the next three sets to the Lady Spikers.

It started to look like the same script was being played out by a slightly different cast of characters.

After La Salle began getting the necessary points from Galang, the much needed net defense from center Mika Reyes and the emotional lift from skipper Aby Maraño, the vaunted Lady Spikers offense became almost impossible to contain—even from all-world libero Den-Den Lazaro who showed absolutely no signs of that left ankle sprain that sidelined her for more than a set in Game 2. DLSU won the next two sets 25-18 and a crushing 25-16 to send it to a decider.

I even commented on Twitter that it appeared the Lady Eagles put all of their efforts into winning the first two sets that it looked like they hardly had anything left for the third and fourth sets. Ateneo just couldn’t get anything going and seemed a step slower. It was as if they were searching desperately for their second wind and it never came.

ALSO READ: All-Star Game: Ginebra, San Mig stars lead PBA selection vs. Gilas

The fifth set saw La Salle race to big leads: 9-5 and more daunting 12-8 and were a mere three points away from a coronation.

The “Heart Strong” Lady Eagles then threw their last ounces of reserve energy to make one final run and starring Ahomiro and the impeccable floor defense of Lazaro, Ateneo went on a 6-1 run and attained match point 14-13.

Galang scored twice in succession to give the Lady Spikers “Four-peat Championship Point” at 15-14. It would be their last lead as Valdez and Morente penetrated the defense and Ateneo got their second match point 16-15.

And then the call that would have everyone talking happened.

DLSU setter Kim Fajardo evaded Valdez’s outstretched hand near the net as she set it towards Galang’s direction but as she did, first referee Bob Malenab whistled the play dead.

His call: Double-Touch on Fajardo. The Lady Eagles are awarded the point and the Sea of Blue erupted in celebration, while Coach Ramil is shown on camera with a disgusted look and a glare in the general direction of Malenab.

It was deemed as a controversial call to end one classic duel.

Initially, I thought Fajardo was whistled for an over-reaching violation. But when the television replays showed she was way behind the net when the alleged infraction occurred, I immediately tweeted it was a bad call. If anything, Valdez should have been called for over-reaching as her hand seemed to have broken the plane of the net.

I then proceeded to call everyone I knew who was at the venue. One referee (who didn’t work the game) said it was a case of Fajardo committing an Illegal Back Row Attack. Yes, she was a back liner at the time, but it didn’t appear she was attacking but setting. If she had sent the ball towards Valdez’s errant hand to try to get a check ball, then it would have been an attack and the call would have been correct. But she was obviously setting (you are allowed to jump while setting even as a back liner). That sort of made sense, but I didn't think that was the case.

So I decided to contact the very person who made the call: Bob Malenab himself.

ALSO READ: New Azkals goalkeeper Deyto savors his moment in the spotlight

I’ve known Malenab for almost a year now as he is also the Head Coach of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Lady Patrolers in the Shakey’s V-League. He was a multi-awarded player with the Far Eastern University (FEU) and would have had a longer career as a player if not for a leg injury that required doctors to surgically remove much of the muscle and tissue from his right leg, hence his very noticeable gait. We both trace our roots to Pangasinan and I consider him a friend as well as being one of the best volleyball referees in the business.

Malenab made it clear during my brief call: “I called the violation on Fajardo as a misdirected set. Double touch,” he said with conviction.

I have the highest the respect for Malenab and his skills as a referee and although I may not agree with the call, he made it and without hesitation. I was watching the match on my computer screen. The action happened within three feet of him. I would venture to say he had a better look at it than I did.

So while the call maybe considered as “controversial” and led to an “anti-climactic” conclusion for the match, I will respect Malenab’s judgement and congratulate the Lady Eagles for their hard-earned victory.

For La Salle, it was a bitter pill to swallow indeed.

I don’t remember a time when Ateneo beat La Salle in five sets. I also don’t recall the last time a stepladder finals went the full route (four games) in volleyball, although I did recount having witnessed the feat achieved in Season 74’s women’s tennis championship when the University of Santo Tomas did it against La Salle.

The Lady Spikers will have to regroup anew. As of now, they are still the reigning and defending queens of UAAP volleyball. They have a full two days to get ready for the Finale on Saturday. But there are many serious questions to answer now.

Firstly, how is the team’s morale after that?

ALSO READ: Constant change: checking in on the picks of the 2012 PBA Draft

They’ve squandered the huge advantage they’ve worked very hard for all season and now have to come out with even more intensity to avoid being dethroned. I wonder what it was like in the locker room, but my guess is it was very quiet at the onset after the match. Maraño has been around long enough to see it all, but maybe not like this. She’ll have to come up with a special speech in training today to get everyone back on track. And how about Coach Ramil? How steamed can he still be?

During the recently concluded PBA Philippine Cup, “The Living Legend” Sen. Robert Jaworski visited the Baranggay Ginebra locker room for an inspirational message that indirectly led to the team coming from as much as fourteen points down to win Game 5 of the series.

Maybe if La Salle can get some of its former stars like Maureen Penetrante, Manilla Santos and Jac Alarca to share some personal messages, it may help rebuild their bruised morale.

Secondly, the Game 3 loss appears more heart wrenching than the Game 1 setback because the Lady Spikers battled all the way back from two sets down and couldn’t decide the outcome themselves. Will they be watching more film from the game (as teams usually do to learn from certain mistakes in game plan and execution) or will they ignore the loss and merely prepare for Sudden-Death Saturday the same way they always have prior to each encounter?

For Ateneo, many were already proclaiming them as champions “in their hearts” for having a rebuilding team and going this far. Now, they are actually one final triumph away from copping what has never been done in the history of their proud heritage: win a UAAP volleyball championship.

ALSO READ: Go ahead, revoke my licence

Are the Lady Eagles still oblivious to the grandeur before them, or do they now realize the implications of their more than modest achievements and be taken aback by their impending date with history?

One match and then that’s it, a champion will be crowned.

Officially 19,824 came to watch Game 3. Care to wager how close to 25,000 might try to squeeze in this Saturday?

I will not be able to watch the Final Showdown live as I will be broadcasting a full boxing event (twelve bouts) in Agoncillo, Batangas (yes, the hometown of the Carolino sisters). I will once again have to watch the replay to write the final piece on what has been a spectacular UAAP season.

“Play Happy” vs. “Play Angry” are now on equal footing, much to the chagrin of the defending titlists.

There will definitely be a coronation on Saturday. The question is do we see history replicated (a fourth crown ties the Lady Spikers with FEU as the only teams to win four consecutive women’s volleyball titles in league history) or do we see history made (Ateneo now also has one hand on its first ever women’s volleyball title)?

ALSO READ: Pacquiao: My time is not yet done

One thing’s for sure: one team will walk out of the MOA Arena with the championship while one team will just walk out of there. It will be loud and it will be memorable.

Which team will be reeling and which team will be reveling on Saturday?

BOXSCORES:

Ateneo def. La Salle—25-21, 25-23, 18-25, 16-25, 17-15

AdMU—Valdez 22, Ahomiro 18, Morente 18, de Jesus 9, Tejada 4, Morado 1, Lazaro (L) 0, Patnongon 0, Gequillana 0.

DLSU—Galang 28, Demecillo 12, Reyes 11, Maraño 8, Fajardo 5, Cheng 3, Esperanza 2, Baron 1, Ci. Cruz (L) 0.

Follow Noel Zarate on Twitter (@NoelZarate) and email sportztackle@yahoo.com