Ateneo Lady Eagles begin title defense bid by thumping NU in UAAP women’s volleyball opener
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The Ateneo Lady Eagles began their title defense bid with a bang after sweeping the NU Lady Bulldogs, 25-21, 25-19, 25-14, on the opening day of the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament Sunday at The Arena in San Juan.
Reigning back-to-back MVP Alyssa Valdez displayed her powerful form anew as she led the Ateneo attack with 17 points.
Maddie Madayag finished with 13 markers while Bea De Leon added 10 for the Lady Eagles who stretched their winning streak to 17 following a perfect run last year that saw them clinch their second straight championship.
Jaja Santiago and Myla Pablo made 11 points apiece for the Lady Bulldogs who simply couldn’t find an answer against the Ateneo onslaught from start to finish.
In the other match, the UP Lady Maroons also notched a three-set sweep in their first assignment against the UE Lady Red Warriors, 25-20, 25-13, 25-21.
Justine Dorog, Nicole Tiamzon and Diana Carlos scored nine points apiece for the Lady Maroon’s balanced attack.
Shaya Adorador led UE with seven points.
Team Standings
WIN - LOSS
ADMU BLUE EAGLES 1 0
UP FIGHTING MAROONS 1 0
ADU SOARING FALCONS 0 0
DLSU GREEN ARCHERS 0 0
FEU TAMARAWS 0 0
UST GROWLING TIGERS 0 0
NU BULLDOGS 0 1
UE RED WARRIORS 0 1
Post Merge: February 03, 2016, 10:31:34 PM
Galang back in action almost a year after injuring her knee
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It was 11 months ago when Ara Galang suffered a harrowing knee injury during De La Salle’s do-or-die stepladder semifinals match against the National University Lady Bulldogs.
Galang after scoring a hit, went down clutching her left knee and was stretchered off the court. She was diagnosed with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, a big bone bruise, a medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear and a medial meniscus tear injury, ending her season last March 7, 2015.
The Lady Spikers survived the battle in four sets even without Galang. However, with Galang helplessly chained on the bench with a cast and crutches, the Taft-based spikers were no match against the might of eventual back-to-back champions Ateneo de Manila Lady Eagles and their superstar Alyssa Valdez.
But like a true warrior, Galang recovered from her injury and slowly worked her way back to her old form for a final tour of duty for the green and white in the 78th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament.
Watch her and DLSU Lady Spikers in their opening day action against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. that will air live over ABS-CBN Sports+Action Channel 23, ABS-CBN Sports+Action HD Channel 166 and via livestream at sports.abs-cbn.com/livestream/uaap.
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Such a talent --- Queen Eagle Valdez on Madayag
Queen Eagle Alyssa Valdez praised Maddie Madayag's gutsy effort in Ateneo de Manila's opening day win over National University.
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Sophomore Maddie Madayag immediately made an impact after coach Tai Bundit injected her in the starting six of the Ateneo de Manila Lady Eagles.
Queen Eagle Alyssa Valdez praised the 17-year-old middle’s gutsy effort as Ateneo tamed the National University Lady Bulldogs, 25-21, 25-19, 25-14, Sunday to open its three-peat bid in the 78th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
“Such a talent, skills-wise, height-wise nasa kanya e,” said the back-to-back Most Valuable Player.
Madayag scored 13 points including five kill blocks and held her ground against NU’s 6-foot-5 middle Jaja Santiago.
“Sana magtulu’y tuloy lang and sobrang nandoon ang consistency at connection nila ni Jia (Morado) iba e. I hope magtulu’y tuloy lang rin,” added Valdez, who led all scorers with 18.
Madayag, a product of Davao Christian High School, played a vital role in front of the net to stop the hitters of NU or slow down the Lady Bulldogs’ attacks to give Ateneo’s floor defense time to recover.
The Lady Eagles extended their winning streak to 19 dating back from their victories in the last two championship games of Season 76 against De La Salle.
Seldom-used in her first year, the comely 5-foot-9 player delivered when her number was called by Bundit. Her role seemed natural for the Lady Eagle.
“Ok naman po since high school gitna po talaga ako kaya alam ko rin po kung ano ang gagawin,” Madayag said.
She added that what they went through in preparation for the season paid dividends especially with the departure of prized libero Denden Lazaro, Ella De Jesus and another backup middle Aeriel Patnongon.
“Teamwork talaga and dapat alam namin ang gagawin naming. Si coach Tai (Bundit) din talaga tinuturuan kami (sa practice) gaya ng kung kunyari sinong iba-block,” she said.
With Madayag being another scoring and defensive option to complement the firepower of Valdez, expect the Lady Eagles to soar once again to realize their grand slam goal.
Galang shines in DLSU's sweep of FEU
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Ara Galang returned to action with a bang as De La Salle University dismantled the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in straight sets, 29-27, 25-23, 25-20, Wednesday in the 78th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Almost a year after her harrowing left knee injury, Galang showed a glimpse of her old form scoring 10 points for the Taft-based squad. The fifth year Lady Spiker, who suffered an ACL, MCL injury in their do-or-die semifinals match against National University, scored all her points from attacks.
“Siguro ngayon mga nasa 85% na siya sa kaya pa n’yang gawin. Well ang target ay 'yung ma-surpass ang nagagawa niya last season definitely. Kasi hindi siya maglalaro kung papantayan lang niya 'yung nilalaro niya dati,” said assistant coach Benson Bocboc, who represented head coach Ramil de Jesus in the postgame interview as he had to leave early for a prior commitment, of Galang. “Sa ngayon kulang pa, may kailangan pa kaming i-adjust.”
The Lady Spikers joined other opening day winners defending champion Ateneo de Manila, University of the Philippines and Adamson University.
Mika Reyes top scored for DLSU with 13 points, all but one coming off spikes, graduating Carol Cerveza had 10 markers while Mary Joy Baron scored eight. Team captain and veteran setter Kim Fajardo dished out 35 excellent sets in the Lady Spikers 48 vicious kills.
However, Bocboc pointed out that they still have to limit their errors. DLSU committed 27 errors.
“Sa ngayon nangangapa pa kami and maraming pa kamin dapat ma-adjust. Also hindi maganda na maraming kaming errors,” he added.
Toni Basas led FEU with 13 points while Remy Palma had 12. Bernadeth Pons had a hard time getting her usual numbers as the Queen Tamaraw was limited to only nine markers.