CPU sends depleted Ateneo out of women’s volleyball tournament

Ateneo's Mona Bagatsing is blocked by CPU's Jovelyn Gonzaga during a three-set sweep in their quarterfinals match-up.

CPU sends depleted Ateneo out of women’s volleyball tournament

by rick olivares

October 27, 2011

Panay Civic Center

The depleted Ateneo Lady Eagles bowed out of the quarterfinals competition of the women’s volleyball tournament to the Central Philippine University Centralians in three sets in heartbreaking fashion yesterday at the Panay Civic Center.

Without their starting six that left early Thursday morning for Manila to compete in the V-League Southeast Asian Club Invitationals, the remaining Lady Eagles had to compete without a libero against a team that took the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses to five sets in their group play.

The Lady Eagles battled nerves and being forced to play unfamiliar positions and roles. And it told heavily on their game as their spikes lacked power and their defense was spotty. However, they Ateneans stayed within striking distance of the Centralians 8-10 in the first set behind Ella de Jesus and Bea Tan. A spate of errors gave CPU some distance that allowed them to take the first set 25-18.

Seeing that the CPU team wasn’t as strong as they though it would be, the Lady Eagles made a game of it in the second set. Sarah Cruz blocked CPU’s national player and team captain Juvelyn Gonzaga to notch the count at 20-all. Aillysse Nacachi put Ateneo ahead 21-20 as she found a crease in CPU’s defense. But Tan had her shot blocked for the last deadlock of the set as CPU once more exploited the inexperience of the Lady Eagles’ reserves. After CPU’s Jeannie de los Reyes hammered home a spike, CPU had the all-important second set that broke Ateneo’s back. Jeffrey Alcarde’s cruised to an easy 25-11 third set for a sweep.

Assistant coach Parley Tupaz, who took over as head coach Roger Gorayeb joined the first team in Manila, lamented the great opportunity for the reserves to snag the first two sets. “Kaya naman nila. Nabigyan sila ng pagkakataon pero kinabahan,” said the Panay, Capiz native. “At least meron silang matutunan dito.”

Note: Ateneo's beach volleyball duo of Mona Bagatsing and Bea Tan likewise crashed out of the quarterfinals yesterday.