MIKA Esperanza delivered the set plays that mattered most for La Salle as it survived rival Ateneo, 18-25, 25-14, 21-25, 25-19, 15-7, and claimed an outright championship berth in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament before a jampacked crowd at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan last night.

Esperanza held her own against Lady Eagles playmaker Jem Ferrer by giving 71 excellent sets in steering the Lady Archers to their 14th successive win.

Besides gaining an automatic entry in the finals, La Salle will have a thrice-to-beat incentive against the team that survives the stepladder semis.

“Sinabi ko sa kanya (Esperanza) na magtiwala lamang sa sarili niya at sa mga spikers.  Maganda ang mga bigay niya sa mga attackers kaya tumaas ang kanyang kumpiyansa,” said Lady Archers mentor Ramil de Jesus.

It was the first double-round eliminations sweep by La Salle since 2004, when the Taft-based lady spikers emerged as outright champions.

For de Jesus, who won six crowns for the Lady Archers, the journey in retaining their championship has just begun.

“Another chapter ito na kailangang paghirapan ulit,” said de Jesus.

Abigail Maraño poured in 20 hits, while Cha Cruz contributed 19 points and Michelle Gumabao 12, including two blocks and two service aces for La Salle.

Fille Cainglet and Alyssa Valdez collected 16 points apiece, while Dzi Gervacio added nine hits, including five service aces, and libero Denden Lazaro had 29 digs for Ateneo.

The Lady Eagles, who have not won a title since joining the league in 1978, finished the eliminations at second place with an 11-3 record.

With Cruz on fire, the Lady Archers coasted to a 14-5 lead in the deciding fifth frame.

La Salle simply took advantage of Ateneo’s poor reception in the last two sets.

Coach Roger Gorayeb extended his personal losing streak against the Lady Archers to nine games since first handling the Lady Eagles in the 2008-09 season.

Earlier, National University (2-12) ended its disappointing season by repeating over University of the Philippines (0-14), 25-19, 19-25, 26-24, 25-15.

The Lady Maroons thus became the first team to end a season winless since the Lady Bulldogs recorded a 0-12 record in 2006-07.

Rookie Myla Pablo had 16 points, while Cai Nepomuceno added 15 hits, including four service winners, for NU.

South Ramos fired 15 hits, including three service aces, while Pau Genido and Joyce Palad added 11 points apiece for UP.

Meanwhile, JR Labrador fired 28 hits as FEU (12-2) claimed the no 1 seed in the men’s Final Four with a 24-26, 28-30, 26-24, 25-20, 15-9 win over Adamson (9-5).