Games Wednesday
(Filoil Flying V Arena)
10 a.m. – DLSU vs FEU (men semis)
2 p.m. – DLSU vs ADMU (women finals)

AGES ago, every team has a sure win for Ateneo in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament.

But the once-moribund Lady Eagles achieved what was then impossible – making  the finals.

Ateneo arranged a championship showdown with unbeaten La Salle by ousting University of Santo Tomas, 25-19, 25-16, 22-25, 25-19, in the stepladder semifinals yesterday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Fille Cainglet and Alyssa Valdez dropped 22 points apiece while Dzi Gervacio added 11 hits as the Lady Eagles entered the finals for the first-time since entering the league in 1978.

The Tigresses failed to sustain their impressive third set performance to put a disappointing end to coach Odjie Mamon’s first season.

“Ito na ang bunga ng sa apat na taon ko sa Ateneo,” said coach Roger Gorayeb, who was instrumental in making San Sebastian’s volleyball program as the most successful in the NCAA.

“Ang time table ko eh next year na magpa-finals.  Pero mahirap i-pressure ang mga bata.  Since nandito lang kami, sana tuloy-tuloy na,” he added.

The women’s championship starts on Wednesday, where the Lady Archers hold a ‘thrice-to-beat’ advantage for sweeping all their 14 matches in the eliminations.

In the men’s division, defending champion UST booked its fifth consecutive finals appearance by downing Adamson, 20-25, 25-18, 25-22, 25-12.

Mark Gil Alfafara fired 17 hits, including two service aces, while Christian Arbasto and Romnick Rico added 15 hits apiece for the Growling Tigers.

In the best-of-three finals, UST will face the winner of the ‘do or die’ match between top seed Far Eastern University and fourth-ranked La Salle on Wednesday.

Maika Ortiz unloaded 22 points while Maru Banaticla added 12 hits and eight digs for the Tigresses.