Lyceum of the Philippines University survived a gallant fight from the hungry San Sebastian College-Recoletos en route to a 25-18, 25-22, 21-25, 25-23 victory in the NCAA Season 99 women's volleyball tournament on Friday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
The Lady Pirates hiked their standing to 2-0 while the Lady Stags fell to a 0-2 hole after also losing their opening game against Mapua University.
San Sebastian took a crucial 21-20 lead in the fourth frame courtesy of a Kath Santos drop, but her own error allowed LPU to regain a one-point cushion before Jaja Tulang's attack sent the Lady Pirates to a 23-21 lead.
Back-to-back errors from Joan Doguna and Johna Dolorito, though, made it a one-point game with LPU still protecting a one-point advantage at 24-23.
Doguna then made sure that San Sebastian won't be able to force a decider, going in between the block of KJ Dionisio and Amaka Tan to deliver the game-winning kill.
Sophomore Doguna led the four-set anew with a team-high 20 points while Dolorito and Tulang chipped in 15 and 12 markers apiece. Santos, on the other hand, poured in 19 points while Tina Marasigan collected 21 markers and five digs.
LPU coach Cromwel Garcia, however, said he was not satisfied with the way the team played, especially in their uncharacteristic third set loss.
"Actually hindi ako satisfied sa game na 'to kasi masyadong mababa, mababa 'yung laro ng mga bata. I don't know if nag-relax ba sila or what, pag-uusapan namin kung ano 'yung nangyari," Garcia told GMA News Online.
(Actually I'm not satisfied with this game because their game was very low. I don't know if they relaxed or what, but we'll talk about it.)
"Credit sa San Sebastian kasi they pushed us to our limit and we know naman na legendary si Coach Roger [Gorayeb] and hindi lang nagawa 'yung part namin sa third set na 'yon."
(Credit to San Sebastian because they pushed us to our limit and we know that Coach Roger Gorayeb is legendary, we just could not do our part in that third set.)
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
