Banaticla steps up as Smart pummels FEU

MANILA, Philippines — No Alyssa Valdez, no problem for Smart.

Playing with only 8 players and sans the Ateneo ace spiker, Smart asserted its might by pummeling an out-of-sync Far Eastern University in straight-sets, 25-16, 25-5, 25-19 on opening day of the 10^th Shakey’s V-League Open Conference on a rainy Sunday evening, August 19, at the FilOil Flying V Arena.

Valdez’ absence was hardly felt as hard-hitting Maru Banaticla fired 19 points while Sue Roces and Gretchel Soltones chipped in 9 each for Smart’s winning cause.

“Sabi ko sa kanila, we may be short in number right no but not short in experience, talent and maturity,” said Smart head coach Roger Gorayeb. “Hindi naman nakukuha sa dami ‘yan.”

After winning the first set with relative ease, Smart bludgeoned FEU in a masterful second set that saw the Lady Tamaraws’ offense went into disarray, 25-5, behind the efforts of Banaticla, Charo Soriano and Nica Guliman.

Not enough

FEU, who is rebuilding going into the UAAP Season 76 volleyball wars, showed life in the 3rd frame behind incoming sophomore Rem Palma who single-handedly tried to carry the Lady Tams’ on her shoulders.

But it was not enough.

The Morayta-based volleybelles knotted the match for one last time at 13-all off a Jerrilli Malabanan kill but it proved to be FEU’s last hurrah.

Banaticla, Soltones and setter Rubie De Leon, who had 16 excellent sets, conspired in a backbreaking 12-6 binge to close the match, 25-19.

“Ang importante naman ay lahat ng nasa team mo ay naglalaro para sa team, ‘yung puso, para sa team at hindi para sa kung ano pa man,” added the multi-titled Gorayeb, who recently stepped down as head coach of Ateneo to focus on his alma mater, San Sebastian College.

Compounding FEU’s woes in the match was the 24 won points by Smart through the former’s errors.

Palma was the lone bright spot for the Lady Tamaraws as she wounded up with 13 points. No other FEU spiker finished in double-figures. – Rappler.com