MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo de Manila University defeated Arellano University, 25-17, 25-18, 25-18, to stay in the thick of the playoffs race in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Zey Pacia and Lyann De Guzman showed the way in the Blue Eagles’ mighty bounce back victory for a 2-1 win-loss record in Pool A tied with the erstwhile unbeaten Lady Chiefs.
The Ateneo wingers scored 10 points each and combined for 18 of the team’s 41 attack points to subdue Arellano in a crucial showdown in the tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, GCash, Chery Tiggo, F2 Logistics, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, R and B Milk Tea and Summit Water.
The Blue Eagles kept their composure throughout the match in the face of strong resistance put up by the Lady Chiefs early in each of the sets.
Ateneo had difficulty shaking off Arellano in the third frame as the Lady Chiefs closed in, 16-13. The Blue Eagles answered with an 8-3 run capped by a Pacia kill block for match point advantage, 24-16.
Arellano saved two match points before Pacia punctuated her impressive performance with the match-winning through the block hammer.
“‘Yun lang ang sinasabi sa amin ni coach Sergio (Veloso) na magkaroon ng strong mind and magtiwala lang sa sarili,” said Pacia as Ateneo recovered from a four-set loss to defending champion National University last week.
Marianne Padillon, Fhaye Mangubat, Kacelyn Punzalan and Samantha Tiratira had five points each for the Lady Chiefs.
Meanwhile, De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas kept their unbeaten records intact and secured spots into the next round in their respective pools last Friday.
The Lady Spikers recovered from a third set setback before mowing down Letran College, 25-7, 25-21, 22-25, 25-15, in Pool C for their second straight win in the competition supported by Smart Sports, PLDT Fibr, Mikasa, Asics, Rebel Sports, Eurotel, Victory Liner, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), SM Tickets as technical partners.
Angel Canino rallied La Salle back from a shocking third set loss to the NCAA runner-up, finishing with 15 points built on 11 kills, two kill blocks and two aces.
“Ni-remind lang namin (ang isa’t isa) na pumunta kami rito na may pride. So, kailangan naming lumaban na may pride nu’ng fourth set kasi may pinanghahawakan kami,” said Canino.
Katrina Del Castillo added nine markers while Amie Provido and Shane Reterta contributed eight points each for the Lady Spikers, who sent the Lady Knights reeling to their second straight loss in three starts despite the 17-point effort of Gia Maquilang.
On the other hand, the Golden Tigresses beat University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, 25-17, 25-17, 21-25, 25-19, for a 3-0 card in Pool B tied with playoffs-bound University of the East.
Angge Poyos and Regina Jurado blasted 15 and 13 points, respectively, for UST, which primed up for a titanic clash against the Lady Warriors today at 3:30 p.m.
The Lady Altas, who got 15 points from Cyrille Almeniana and 10 markers from Jazhryll Lagmay, bowed out of contention after sliding to a 0-2 slate.
Three-peat-seeking NU (2-0), meanwhile, takes on San Beda University (0-2) in Pool A at 6 p.m. while La Salle plays Jose Rizal University (0-1) in the 1 p.m. curtain-raiser.
SSL games are aired live and on-demand via Puso Pilipinas, SMART Livestream, Solar Sports Channel 70 on Sky Cable and Channel 59 on Cable Link. TMT
