“Three-mendous” DLSU sweeps Ateneo for Triple Crown v2.0

Winning the first championship is tough. Winning it again is much tougher. Winning three in a row is just sheer dominance. Carrying a record of 57-3 over the last three seasons, the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers swept the hard-fighting Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) Lady Eagles in the Best-of-Three titular series and for the second time achieve a triple crown in UAAP Women’s Volleyball at a jam-packed MOA Arena in Pasay City last March 6, 2013.

After a tightly contested opener that saw the Taft Girls come back from two sets down to stun the Ateneans, the second game was just a show of force by the Lady Spikers as they triumphed in straight-sets fashion, 25-23, 25-20, 25-16.

Sophomore sensation Mika Reyes paced DLSU with 16 points, including seven blocks while co-season MVPs Abigail Maraño and Ara Galang contributed 12 points apiece. For the Lady Eagles, they were led by scoring champ Alyssa Valdez with 14 markers.

It was clear from the onset that the Lady Spikers were out to sweep their ancient rivals by coming out the aggressors. Ateneo fought back gamely towards the twilight of the opening set but were eventually subdued by the steady defenses of DLSU. The second set was a different story for the Katipuneras as they raced to an early advantage. However, a series of errors coupled by the offensive tenacity of Maraño and Galang enabled the Lady Spikers to regain the upper hand at crunch-time and sailed to an easy second set victory.

Game 1 recap: La Salle resurrects to beat Ateneo in 5 sets

By this time—at least in the eyes of the New Legion of Doom faithful—the wind should have been taken away from the sails of the Lady Eagles, but Valdez just wouldn’t give up the ship as she led her squad back into the driver’s seat until the middle of the third set. In the end, however, the pressure applied by the defending queens of college volleyball was just too much to overcome and the final Ateneo push was waylaid by the steady closing of eventual Finals MVP Michele Gumabao as—similar to their second encounter of the season—DLSU prevailed in a game that was tightly contested.

What many will take away from witnessing this game was not the jubilation that spilled onto the court for DLSU when the final point was scored nor when the 18,779 paying spectators either began revelling or reeling. It was the raw emotion displayed by the hardy athletes that just completed the final chapter of this version of the saga. The cameras of television broadcaster ABS-CBN Sports captured the unabashed weeps of the players as they all suddenly transformed from rugged warriors to young girls in an instant.

Among the most vivid scenes was when Ateneo setter Jem Ferrer tightly embraced La Salle libero Melissa Gohing in a clasp that didn’t seem to want to end. These two began their journey together in the high school ranks as teammates on the NCR squad in the 2007-08 Palarong Pambansa along with two other Lady Eagles in Fille Cainglet and skipper Dzi Gervacio, and after five years of war, they finally move on to the next uncertain pages of their future as battle-scarred friends.

It was Gohing’s downpour of tears that was another defining image of the aftermath as—by tradition—the DLSU players did their victorious “archer” pose and the ultra-senior’s sobs transcended the moment. It was her final game in a La Salle jersey and she is the only member of the team that had experienced being in the finals five straight seasons. Although Gohing will be joined by La Salle Dasmariñas transferee Wensh Tiu (who has no more eligibility) and Gumabao (who will forgo her final year of eligibility) as the members of the squad that will no longer be back next season, the volleyball court was Gohing’s home for half a decade, and her teammates became her sisters while Head Coach Ramil de Jesus served as a surrogate father. She was the only member of the team to receive a bouquet of flowers during the final bow—a tribute to one of the most unsung heroes of the team and one whose legacy as the ONLY FOUR-TIME CHAMPION in La Salle volleyball history might just be enough reason for the school to consider retiring her jersey. That, of course, is just a submitted suggestion by this writer.

Another picture that will leave a lasting impression on the minds of those who saw it was the final embrace of Ateneo’s heralded Fab Five.

When they got together at the start of the 2008-09 season, no one would have thought that they could turn a losing program into one that a tradition may be built on. Ateneo has never won a volleyball crown in the UAAP and was never a contender until the sophomore year of the Fab Five, which marked only the second time ever that the Lady Eagles advanced to the Final Four. They have never fallen out of that elite group since, closing their careers with back-to-back finals appearances.

ALSO READ: New UAAP rule is 'final'; Ateneo, UP voted against it

What makes the OBF faithful and volleyball fans in general more than a bit tearful about the scene of their last hug as comrades is that these once wide-eyed teenage rookies became strong women right before our eyes. We watched them evolve, not only in the UAAP but through countless seasons in the Shakey’s V-League where in 2010 they even won a championship.

The collective picture of wonder as well of Valdez, Ella de Jesus, Den-Den Lazaro and the young future core looking at the prospect of being on their own, without the reliable help of their veteran “ates” was another captivating sight, while the Lady Spikers’ universal grin knowing Maraño, Galang, Reyes and a blossomed Cyd Demecillo will still be at the forefront of next year’s juggernaut flashed in their twinkling eyes.

It was quite an experience watching the final episode of the drama that brought volleyball into the national consciousness on a highly upscale and mainstream level. A new generation of fans and converts will now anticipate the opening of the Shakey’s V-League’s tenth season on April 7^th and will now bring the sport one more step closer to being basketball’s biggest spectator rival.

On a personal note, here is my message to the following ladies:

Fille Cainglet (@FilleisFly)

Jem Ferrer (@JemFerrer)

Dzi Gervacio (@dzigervacio)

Liss Gohing (@GOHINGMELISSA)

Michele Gumabao (@gumabaomichele)

Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho)

A Nacachi (@A_Nacachi)

Wensh Tiu (@JWenshTiu)

Because of your dedication to making volleyball better and more entertaining to fans, you have helped bring it to the height of popularity it enjoys today. You have put everything on line to ensure that the next generation that will follow your in your footsteps and attempt to fill the huge shoes you’ve left behind now have to bring your collective greatness to the next level. You have made the road clear for future success in volleyball. Now I wish you all the success you deserve after volleyball. Continue staying close to the game and to the fans. It is because of women like you that a little bit of inspiration has now gone a long way. Thanks for the memories, ladies.

And to all the people who always believed in volleyball and dreamed it would one day attain this level of popularity (especially those who have been watching from the beginning), your patience is now slowly paying off.

Now for the more serious question: can the Lady Spikers be the first school in UAAP Women’s Volleyball history to win FOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS IN A ROW?

No pressure, DLSU ladies. Enjoy the moment and congratulations for being not only the queens of volleyball but also the UAAP Overall Champions!

The season is not yet over. The Far Eastern University (FEU) forged a decider against host school National University (NU) in the Men’s division. Their final match is slated for Saturday, March 9^th at The Arena in San Juan City.

This was a season that will be remembered for unprecedented attendance records and a new awareness of a sport that has taken the nation by storm. It is my hope that Season 76 of the UAAP continues on the jumpstart of this year’s campaign.

But before that, see you all on April 7 for Season 10 of the Shakey's V-League. There’s so much more volleyball to come….

Follow Noel Zarate on Twitter (@NoelZarate)

Editor's note: The blogger's views do not represent Yahoo! Southeast Asia's position on the topic or issue being discussed in this post.