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Crowd goes wild as ateneo overpowered la salle

Valdez leads ateneo to force a do-or-die match against la salle in uaap’78 womens volleyball

Excitement, happiness, tension  are the expressions in the whole volleyball community showcase in the araneta coliseum, pasay city as the two giants in uaap womens volleyball meet each other.

                Down for two sets the lady eagles able to respond and come back very big to defeat their rival la salle in a five-setter game to force a deciding match on Saturday april 30, 2016.

                As the game tip off, the crowd is already on their feet and so energetic as the players of both teams were introduced.

                La salle draw first blood as they get the first set convincingly, 25-18 and it was ara galang who delivered the first point of the match.

An epic set follows as both teams show why they are the top two teams in uaap womens volleyball.

Ateneo fought in the second set by establishing an early 5-point lead but la salle managed to equalize along the end of the set.

Series of deadlocks happened one team reaches set point then in a spilt second other team had it but kim dy seals the set and proves how strong and determined la salle is as they inch    2 sets to none.

In the third set, Ateneo hold on to their mantra of heartstrong that made them won two championships in a row, strong and tight floor defense, good first ball, fast plays in the middle of last year finals mvp, amy ahomiro  and  with the heroic act of the 3-time mvp alyssa valdez they were able to shut down la salle, 17-25.

Confidence is back to the ateneo side and alyssa is still unstoppable who just gave her best and carries the ateneo team till the end with the help of amy ahomiro, bea de leon, jho marguinot and the rest of the lady eagles to force a deciding fifth set, 22-25.

With both crowds roaring, everyone is praying for the players for the teams and all nerves are on everyone the deciding set has come.

You can see on the players face the eagerness to win but it was ateneo who come in the finish line first, 11-15 and the crowd go crazy with teary eyes.

Alyssa Valdez with 34 points 32 attacks, 1 block and 1 serve is best player of the game who delivers most of the points when ateneo need it the most.

La Salle fought hard through Fajardo (best setter), baron (best blocker), macandili (best receiver and best digger) and seasoned players mika reyes and ara galang but ateneo manage to cope with their defense and offense on time.

With four players in double digits, valdez, maraguinot, de leon and ahomiro  ateneo forces a do-or-die game against la salle.

Atenians celebrate while Lasallian is seeking for revenge but for all the volleyball fans all over the world the battle is not yet over.

               

               

               

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Clutch Hontiveros powers Alaska to thrilling win over Ginebra

Alaska defeated Ginebra to stop the Gin Kings winning streak in the PBA Governor’s Cup

The Alaska Aces completed the comeback, 91-90 by booting out the favoured Ginebra Gin Kings in a close match yesterday at the Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City.

            Dondon Hontiveros, who has an off play game, starred Alaska’s win as he knocks down a crucial three-point connection coming from the pass of Chris Banchero that gives them a one-point lead in the last 7.6 seconds of the fourth quarter.

            “Iniisip ko na lang na baka yun na yung pagkakataon kong magcontribute. Pumasaok naman. Kaya salamat sa Diyos,” said Hontiveros.

            The Aces also drew 21 pts and 12 rebounds from Sonny Thoss while Cyrus Baguio added 13 pts and 5 assists to give their team its 2^nd win after they escape from a 23-points decifit throughout the game.

            “May tiwala ako sa mga players ko kaya sinabihan ko silang ibigay lang ang kaya nila,” said Alaska head coach Alex Compton.

            The Aces took a 0-2 advantage early in the 1^st quarter but the Gin kings able to recover and established a huge and comfortable lead at the end of the regulation.

The Aces tried to bounce back when Jayvee Casio nailed two 3-pointers that give his team a 3-points advantage, 26-29 but Gin Kings answers with their own version of a 3-point shot from Mark Caguioa, who tallied three consecutive corner pockets, 26-38.

In the 2^nd half, the 7-foot 2 forward, Japeth Aguilar fires up both on defense and offense to increase the lead of the Gin Kings, 78-89 but the Aces able to turn the table around coming into the final stretch of the 4^th quarter.

With perseverance, cooperation and putting strong defense on both ends, the Aces managed to inch closer but the Gin Kings fought back as Greg Slaughter successfully hit the mark in his free throw that put his team on top, 88-90.

With 2 minutes remaining in the ball game, the Aces iced the game, then coming from nowhere, Hontiveros launch a bullet in the three-point area, 91-90.

 In the remaining 7.6 seconds, Gin Kings got the ball possession but, Slaughter failed to connect the undergoal shot.

The run-and-gun play of both teams ends and the Aces breaks the five-game winning streak of the Gin Kings.

“Ayos naman ang laro namin. Talagang nagpursige sila,” said Caguioa, who carries the Gin Kings with 47 pts, carrier high while Aguilar contributed 12 pts and 10 rebounds. Gin Kings drop it record to 7-4.

On the other pairing, San Miguel Beermen won over Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 82-77 that place them second in the rank, 8-4 behind Talk and Text Tropang texters, 9-1.