Valdez returns to help Ateneo pull off win over San Sebastian

REIGNING UAAP MVP Alyssa Valdez returned to action and helped the Ateneo Lady Eagles defeat San Sebastian, 25-17, 25-13, 25-21, yesterday to post its second straight victory for a share of the Group B lead with St. Benilde in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12-Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.
Valdez, who sat out the team’s four-set win over UST last week for a much-needed rest following a hectic summer campaign, came in only in the third set and fired five hits, helping cap the reigning UAAP champions’ 71-minute romp over the undermanned former many-time NCAA titlist.
Jhoanna Maraguinot, who starred in Ateneo’s 25-11, 27-25, 19-25, 25-20 triumph over UST, unloaded a match-best 13 hits, including 10 on spikes and two on blocks while Kim Gequillana scattered 11 markers. But it was Valdez’s return that highlighted the Lady Eagles’ rout of the Lady Stags, who fell to their second straight defeat.
Ateneo coach Tai Bundit was supposed to give Valdez an extended rest but apparently had a change of heart following the continued sidelining of Fil-Canadian rookie Kat Tolentino, who suffered a season-ending ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury during warm ups in the league opener last week.
Ella de Jesus, a former spiker converted into a libero this conference, was also a late scratch with an eye infection although Jamie Lavitoria has stepped up in her absence.
San Sebastian continued to play top spiker, Cebuana Gretchel Soltones as libero after the SEAG and Asian Under-23 Championship veteran suffered a shoulder tear in Singapore last month. Soltones alternated with Alyssa Eroa but the Lady Stags have missed her power spikes and big serves with Denice Lim and Jolina Labiano forced to take the cudgels and fired nine hits apiece.