By Jonas Terrado
Manilla Santos made her last game a memorable one as De La Salle captured the 71st UAAP women’s volleyball championship by dethroning Far Eastern University, 25-19, 20-25, 25-21, 25-21, in a winner-take-all game yesterday at The Arena in San Juan.
Santos, a five-year veteran, earned the coveted Most Valuable Player award after scoring 16 points as she came through in the fourth set to help the Lady Archers win their first title since 2005 and fifth overall.
"Talagang pinaghirapan ng mga bata na mapanalo itong championship," said DLSU head coach Ramil de Jesus, whose team overcame a tough loss in Game 1. "Sobrang relaxed kami ngayon kasi dito na kailangan ibigay na nilang lahat."
With La Salle ahead, 21-20, Santos delivered two hits and a block to put them at match point before FEU’s Cherry May Vivas’ spike sailed wide to the right to seal the title for the Taft-based volleybelles.
"Sobrang sarap talaga ng panalo namin ngayon dahil this time team captain ako at mas malaki ang responsibility ko sa team," said Santos, who is currently taking up a masteral degree at La Salle.
Aside from Santos, Jacqueline Alarca, Stephanie Mercado and Charleen Cruz also delivered for the Lady Archers. The lanky Alarca scored 19 points, five of them off blocks, while Mercado, the daughter of legendary sprint queen and FEU alumna Lydia de Vega, hit seven points in the first set to finish with 17.
Maica Morada led the Lady Tamaraws with 18 points, Vivas added 14 while Shaira Gonzalez poured in 13. Rachel Anne Daquis, also playing her last game with the Morayta-based squad, finished with 11 points in a losing cause.
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