THE PLAYOFF hopes of the Faculty of Arts and Letters (AB) Women’s Volleyball Team in the Thomasian Goodwill Games dimmed after it suffered its third straight defeat, this time in the hands of a surging Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (Medicine).
AB fell prey to Medicine in a two-set meltdown, 25-23 and 25-14, in their elimination round duel held Monday at the P. Noval Court.
Medicine came out streaking with an 8-0 run against AB, earning a 12-4 advantage in the first set. AB, however, bounced back and caught up through nimble offensive attacks.
The two sides clashed in an effort to take control of the match, but Medicine secured the set with its players’ swooping attacks, 25-23.
In the second set, Medicine took advantage of the Dapitan-based squad’s faulty spikes and service errors, immediately owning a five-point lead, 9-4.
Both squads delivered an exchange of unforced errors, leaving the game at 13-8, with Medicine still in the driver’s seat.
Medicine continued to show its court dominance and stretched its five-point advantage to 11 through aggressive spikes.
AB tried to stop the bleeding through a series of blocks, banking on its middle blockers, but the ladies in yellow and black refused to back down and kept the lead through their orchestrated attacks, 21-12.
Medicine earned the set through a service error from AB, 25-14.
Despite going deeper down the cellar, AB co-team captain Antonette Bautista said they will make sure that the 2014 women’s volleyball champions will regain its spot in the 2017 Goodwill Games.
“’Yung disadvantage siguro ng team namin sa (Medicine) is kulang kami sa atake. Di kasi nadadala na puro depensa na lang,” Bautista said. “Next year, siguro mas mag-focus kami sa offense at mas tibayan ‘yung depensa. And for sure, babawi kami,” Bautista said. F MARIA EDEN T. DINO
