Lady Patriots close in on UCAA volley crown

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion La Salle-Dasmariñas Lady Patriots held their ground in the fifth and final set to beat the National College of Business and Arts Lady Wildcats, 15-25, 25-20, 25-20, 23-25, 15-11, yesterday at the Rizal TechnologicalU gymnasium in Mandaluyong. 

The Lady Patriots needed an hour and 49 minutes to score the win and move to within a victory of sweeping their best-of-three final series in the 12th Universities and Colleges Athletic Association women’s volleyball tournament.

 The La Salle spikers went the long route following errors in the fourth at the net by Iari Yongco and a service miscue from Giselle Bembo, almost costing them the game. Their miscues allowed the Lady Wildcats to overcome a 23-all tie and  force a decisive fifth set, 25-23.

 NCBA’s defense on Yongco, which came mainly from Marie Lim and Clara Bernadas, kept the Lady Wildcats’ hopes alive as attacks from Lim and Jennyca Lyn Tan handed NCBA two crucial points at the end of the fourth.

 But crucial blocks by Mariel Desengano and Yongco’s four service points in the last set enabled the Lady Patriots to regain the upperhand at 12-7, en route to the clinching set.

The Lady Patriots and the Lady Wildcats clash anew in Game 2 on Tuesday at the Ugnayang La Salle gymnasium in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

Earlier, RTU settled for third place following a 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 25-16, win over Trinity University of Asia.

The Lady Patriots reached the finals after they prevailed over RTU, 22-25, 30-28, 25-23, 15-25, 15-13, while the Lady Wildcats advanced after they stopped Trinity, 25-22, 25-22, 25-23.

In the men’s side, RTU whipped Olivarez College, 25-17, 27-25, 32-30, while NCBA turned back La Salle-Dasmariñas, 17-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-17, to clinch championship slots.