Games today:
(Rizal Memorial Coliseum)
12 p.m. — Letran vs Saint Benilde
2 p.m. — EAC vs Adamson
4 p.m. — UST vs Lyceum
6 p.m. — UP vs Mapua
It was not the type of performance University of the East head coach Ronwald Dimaculangan wanted to see in the Lady Warriors’ campaign opener in the Shakey’s Super League 2022 Collegiate Pre-Season Championship.
UE played lethargic, Dimaculangan admitted, but he’ll take the win anyway.
“It was an ugly win but at least I saw in them the resiliency to bounce back. From here we’ll try to address our mistakes,” Dimaculangan said following the Lady Warriors’ 31-33, 25-20, 25-23, 21-25, 15-12, win over Mapua University in Pool A action Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Dimaculangan rued the sluggish movement of his wards as UE allowed the Lady Cardinals to dictate the pace.
It didn’t help that the Lady Warriors were even slower on their reception.
“We had difficulty in our reception so we can’t pass well, losing our chances of creating high percentage plays,” Dimaculangan said.
Meanwhile, University of Perpetual Help came back from a set down to beat San Beda University, 24-26, 25-21, 25-23, 27-25, in the other Pool A meeting.
Rookie Shyla Omipon scored 17 points on her debut for the Lady Altas.
A pivotal 7-2 scoring blast midway through the fifth set to break a 7-7 deadlock pushed UE at match point, 14-9. The Lady Cardinals saved three match points with Hannah de Guzman landing an ace to pull Mapua within two, 14-12, only to send her next service straight to the net to end the match.
KC Cepada finished with 21 points while Lia Pelaga and Von Dimaculangan added 15 and 11 markers, respectively, for UE.
De Guzman led the Lady Cardinals’ charge with 10 points while Alyanna Ong and Nadine Barces combined for 14 markers.
Meanwhile, action resumes today with NCAA champion College of St. Benilde squaring off against Letran in the Pool D curtain-raiser at noon.
Emilio Aguinaldo College and Adamson University cross paths at 2 p.m. followed by another Pool B showdown between University of Santo Tomas and Lyceum of the Philippines University at 4 p.m. University of the Philippines will make its debut at 6 p.m. against Mapua University in Pool A.
