The Ateneo Lady Eagles grabbed the top seed in the semifinals after cruising past the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws, 25-19, 25-14, 25-18, in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.
Bracing for a tough outing against a fancied contender, the Lady Eagles needed just the first half of the opening set to check the Lady Tams and chalk up their sixth straight victory as they moved a win away from completing a sweep of the elimination round and the quarterfinals of the mid-season tournament.
Regardless of the outcome of its final game match against National U next Sunday, Ateneo has secured the No. 1 spot in the Final Four and will play the No. 4 squad in the crossover semis of the league.
Alyssa Valdez, the league’s scoring leader, ended up with 15 hits, including 13 on potent attacks that either landed on open spots or simply pierced through the arms of FEU defenders.
But it was Jhoanna Maraguinot who took the game’s top honors with her equally imposing 11-hit game, highlighted by three aces, while Amy Ahomiro chipped in nine points and Bea de Leon and Kim Gequillana added six markers apiece for the reigning UAAP champions who produced five blocks and six aces.
Despite the loss, FEU remained in the magic four with a 4-2 (win-loss) card, leaving NU and UST tied at second at 4-1 with Arellano in fifth at 2-3.