Karyla Jasareno a spark plug for JRU in sweep of error-plagued EAC

Published April 10, 2024 12:31pm

Updated April 10, 2024 12:31pm

Karyla Jasareno proved to be the game changer as Jose Rizal University grabbed a breakthrough with a 25-20, 25-20, 25-23 win against Emilio Aguinaldo College in the NCAA Season 99 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila. 

Jasareno led the charge for the Lady Bombers with 13 points, eight of which she dropped in the third frame, alongside nine digs to help JRU even its record to 1-1. The Lady Generals, meanwhile, dropped to a 0-2 hole.

“Personality niya is timid siya compared to other seniors but now, at least nakikita niya na kaya niyang makipagsabayan sa loob ng court,” JRU head coach Mia Tioseco said of Jasareno.

(Her personality is timid compared to other seniors but now, at least she sees that she can be at par with the others on court.)

The Lady Bombers figured in a tight third set against the Lady Generals with the trio of Cath Almazan, Jen Omapas, and Krizzia Reyes doing the damage for the Rod Palmero-led squad. 

Georgeena Lut released back-to-back aces that knotted the scoreline at 18-all before EAC even took the lead at 20-19 with an Omapas attack. 

Jasareno then gave JRU a two-point cushion, 23-21, after powering a 3-0 run but Almazan went for a cross court kill that cut the deficit to just one anew, but Jasareno put power and might on her attack to deliver the match point, 24-22. 

Almazan would still respond from the opposite side, but Jasareno made sure to put in the finishing kick as she completed the combination play to seal the deal. 

Veteran May Ruiz was also crucial in the win as the team captain chipped in nine points anchored on five attacks, three blocks, and one ace while Lyka Egera, Gayle Batara, and Patricia Del Pilar all chimed in with five markers. 

JRU also took advantage of an error-plagued EAC side, which committed 31 errors against just the 20 of the Lady Bombers.

“I’m very happy na lumabas ‘yung laro ng girls, ‘yun lang ‘yung gusto kong mangyari for this game,” Tioseco added as they bounced back from an opening day loss to Perpetual last Sunday.

(I’m very happy that their game was out there, that was what I really wanted today.)

“Siguro nawala na ‘yung first game jitters so at least now, they can gauge kung ano ‘yung kaya nilang gawin and hopefully consistently nilang magawa.”

(Perhaps, the first game jitters were gone so at least now, they can gauge what they can do and hopefully they will do it consistently.)

In the first game, EAC men’s volleyball team picked up where it left off after sweeping JRU, 25-26, 25-17, 25-16, to improve to 2-0 while the other team remained winless at 0-2. 

Marvin Romero starred again as the veteran outside hitter put together 13 points and nine receptions while Jan Abor chipped in 10 markers and six digs as they followed up their five-set win against Benilde last Sunday. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News