UAAP Women’s Volleyball final day: FEU bows to Ateneo, faces Adamson in sudden-death; UP ends with win streak

GAMES ON WEDNESDAY (February 19th, San Juan Arena)

2:00PM Adamson vs. DLSU (M)—sudden-death Final Four playoff

4:00PM Adamson vs. FEU (W)—sudden-death Final Four playoff

Before I begin with the ladies, I have to report that an upset of epic proportions happened in the men’s tournament as the erstwhile winless University of the East (UE) Red Warriors shocked Final Four contending De La Salle University (DLSU) in the first match of the scheduled quadruple header to end the season.

UE (1-13) needed only four sets to derail the Green Spikers’ bid for an outright semifinals berth, 25-23, 15-25, 25-21, 25-22 and their dismal Season 76 campaign with the unlikely victory that now sends the boys from Taft into a one game playoff against the Adamson University Falcons this Wednesday, February 19th for that last slot in the Final Four. The Falcons dropped their final assignment against second seed Ateneo last Saturday and the winner of that sudden-death affair faces top seed National University (NU) which finally claimed the billing with a triumph against third running Far Eastern University (FEU) earlier, 25-18. 25-18, 25-16.

The Red Warriors drew an inspired performance from setter Vincent Magdaong who effortlessly found his targets as UE used a balanced attack from all fronts to give Head Coach Leonardo Toyco a season-ending gift. National team aspirant Ace Mandani paced the Red Warriors with thirteen markers, supported by Lester Sawal and Angelone Soria with eleven points apiece. Magdaong finished with an impressive thirty excellent sets as his orchestration turned the usually solid DLSU defenses into a tattered one.

Raymark Woo had a game-high sixteen points for the Green Spikers, while another national team candidate in Red Christensen chipped-in thirteen.

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In the afternoon session, the University of the Philippines finished the season on a high note by winning in straight sets against the UE Lady Warriors, 25-16, 25-21, 25-18; keeping UE winless (0-14) while coming away with its first winning streak since 2010 when they repeated over the NU Lady Bulldogs twice. This was, of course, in the pre-Santiago era.

Veteran quicker Angeli Araneta played as if she was seeing action for the last time in her college career as she bombarded the Lady Warriors with a game-high fifteen points. There have been many reports that Araneta will forego her final year of eligibility and many allege will be joining the club ranks as a draft candidate in the upcoming Philippine Super Liga (PSL) rookie draft. But at least for now, the 5’11” senior is still a Lady Maroon.

For UE the leading scorers seemed to be a torch passing ceremony as freshman sensation Shaya Adorador paced the Lady Warriors with thirteen points while graduating Faith Bulan ended her college career with twelve markers. Bulan has used up all her eligibility and that was her swansong.

UP closes its upswing campaign with a record of 3-11; exceeding many expectations and—pending Araneta’s final decision—could even make more noise next season. They actually achieved quite a bit despite not having regular starters Chester Ong and Princess Se in their second round push.

The Lady Warriors once again finish winless (0-14) and have officially entered full rebuilding mode with the impending departure of Bulan.

That set the stage for the season finale as assured third seed Ateneo Lady Eagles faced a still hopeful FEU Lady Tamaraws. A win by the ladies from Morayta would grant them an outright Final Four berth wherein which they face the Katipuneras again in the stepladder playoffs. A victory by the Lady Eagles would push FEU into a sudden-death playoff against the Adamson Lady Falcons for that last Final Four slot.

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There were many so-called “ploy thickeners” heading into this last game of the season.

For FEU, that question of reports that second leading scorer Remy Palma would suit up were still unanswered heading into game day. The other question was that if she played, what condition would she be in after a knee injury threatened to sideline her for the rest of the year. Would she be an asset or a liability if she indeed was given the green light to play?

For Ateneo, how serious was the reported injury suffered by starting opener Ella de Jesus? And although she was listed as “doubtful” by the coaching staff last Thursday, did the two days rest help her recuperate? Another question was if controversial quicker Marge Tejada would finally be playing after being a healthy DNP-CD (Did Not Play-Coach’s Decision) in the Adamson match. According to sources close to the Lady Eagles, Tejada is presently having some issues with the coaching staff and although she is fully recovered from her alleged injury she has is still not seeing any floor time.

Well, all reports became substantiated when the starters were introduced.

Palma was on the Lady Tamaraws starting line-up, while veteran Bea Tan took de Jesus’ starting slot, confirming that the “Ellavator” was indeed “nursing” something. Tejada’s center position was once again occupied by Aerieal Patnongon and former utility spiker Amy Ahomiro. Freshman Michelle Morente slid over to the opposite spiker spot anew.

It was clear from the onset that Ateneo skipper Alyssa Valdez was not going to take this final assignment lightly as she immediately started with the aggression that she has been known for all these years. By the midway point of the first set, the 21-year-old Batangas native has already attained the seven points necessary to wrest the scoring title lead away from Adamson’s Sheila Pineda and went on to dominate the match; finishing with a game-high 21 markers.

Towards the end of the first set, de Jesus was finally dispatched by Head Coach Parley Tupas and sources say it was Ella who requested to be inserted into the game. Apparently, whatever injury it was that kept her from starting the match did not keep her from finishing it. De Jesus contributed five points to the Ateneo cause as they easily cruised to a straight sets triumph against the Lady Tamaraws, 25-17, 25-19, 25-16 to end the season with a 10-4 record.

Palma was slow and sluggish in her return as her heavily bandaged left knee limited her mobility and the Lady Eagles pounced.

RELATED: UAAP Women's Volleyball: DLSU sweeps tourney to force stepladder, UST derails Lady Falcons

Although she played the entire match, the 5’11” former project could only muster a three point contribution to FEU’s seemingly lacklustre final push for an outright Final Four berth. Utility spiker Samantha Dawson led the team in scoring with nine points and 21-year-old Bacolod lass Genevieve Casugod added six in an anemic showing.

The big plus for the Lady Tamaraws was that Palma had returned when many thought she was done for the season. Now she has a full two days to rest and recondition herself before the all-important sudden-death showdown against the Lady falcons on Wednesday for the right to face Ateneo anew in the stepladder postseason.

Look like this Wednesday will be a very busy day of watching live sports.

For those of you who will decide to take in the action at the San Juan Arena for the double knockout and head straight to the Big Dome after that to catch Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup finals, we just may see each other either in the venue or on the road. Imagine how fun that would be.

So for the men, who’s it going to be: Adamson or La Salle?

And for the women, who do you have: Adamson or FEU?

Also, for the hoops fans: are you for Rain or Shine or San Mig (Series tied at 1-1)?

One thing’s for sure, those supporting the Falcons and the Lady Falcons have to do their best to enhance their calm—as it is instructed in “Demolition Man”.

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It’ll be a great day for Philippine sports, and may the most determined team win.

BOX SCORES:

(M) UE (1-13) def. DLSU (7-7)*—25-23, 15-25, 25-21, 25-22

UE—Mandani 13, Sawal 11, Soria 11, Molina 9, Magdaong 7, Caluya 6, Bantolino 2, Almarion (L) 0, Eugenio 0, Santos 0, Pradel 0.

DLSU—Woo 16, Christensen 14, Cerveza 13, Calderon 9, Calasin 8, Santos 3, de la Vega 2, Frey 2, Dizon (L) 0, Movido (L) 0, Asia 0.

*DLSU faces AdU in sudden-death playoff for last Final Four berth

(M) NU (12-2) def. FEU (9-5)—25-18, 25-18, 25-16

NU—Tolentino 12, Inaudito 10, Baysac 8, Paglinawan 8, Torres 8, Mangulabnan 4, Talipan 4, Dizon (L) 0, Ismail 0, Tekiko 0.

FEU—de la Calzada 9, Dolor 8, Gacutan 5, Faytaren 4, Barrica 3, Margate 2, Bautista 2, Cayaban 1, Marmento (L) 0, Refugia 0, Villegas 0.

(W) UP (3-11) def. UE (0-14)—25-16, 25-21, 25-18

UP—Araneta 15, Bersola 9, Layug 6, Ortiz 6, Tiamzon 4, Espinosa 3, Mangulabnan 2, Calugcug 1, Gaiser (L) 0, Magtalas 0.

UE—Adorador 13, Bulan 12, Manansala 6, Ramos 3, Alcayde 2, Ponon 2, Dacaymat 1, Sarmiento (L) 0, Cais 0.

(W) AdMU (10-4) def. FEU (6-8)*—25-17, 25-19, 25-16

AdMU—Valdez 21, Morente 14, Ahomiro 8, de Jesus 5, Morado 4, Patnongon 3, Gequillana 2, Lazaro (L) 0, B. Tan 0.

FEU—Dawson 9, Casugod 6, Pons 4, Palma 3, Simborio 3, Basas 2, Papa 1, Atienza 1, Agno (L) 0, Sy 0, Torres 0.

*FEU faces AdU in sudden-death playoff for last Final Four berth

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