MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATED) For the third season in a row, De La Salle University has shown that it is the best women's volleyball program in the UAAP.

The Lady Spikers dismantled Far Eastern University (FEU) in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 80 women's volleyball finals on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum, winning in straight sets to clinch a third consecutive title and 11th overall.

It was a 26-24, 25-20, 26-24 victory for the Lady Spikers, who did not give up a single set to the Lady Tamaraws throughout the finals series but had to weather a spirited comeback attempt from the Morayta spikers in the clinching frame.

"Hindi na namin pinalampas 'yung opportunity," said La Salle coach Ramil de Jesus, who has guided the Lady Spikers to 18 finals appearances in his two decades in charge of the program. "Kapag dumating ang ganitong situation, kung dumating 'yung opportunity na makuha namin, 'di namin bibitawan."

"Sabi ko, hindi na dapat umabot ito ng Game 3," he added.

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The Lady Spikers got the momentum they needed when they mounted a stunning comeback in the opening set, showcasing their championship poise to outlast FEU in a tight finish.

The Lady Tamaraws surged to a 24-21, lead thanks to back-to-back kills by graduating captain Bernadeth Pons, and looked poised to steal the opening frame. However, Kianna Dy and Majoy Baron had other ideas.

Dy sparked a fiery wind-up for La Salle with two straight hits, Baron tied the set at 24 with an ace, and Dy fired another kill to put the Lady Spikers at set point, 25-24. A block by Aduke Ogunsanyan on FEU's Ced Domingo completed the comeback, and gave La Salle immense confidence heading into the second set.

The Lady Spikers were in control for most of the way in Set 2, pouncing on a now-jittery FEU team to seize a 2-0 advantage. La Salle had four aces in the set, while the Lady Tamaraws committed nine unforced errors that did not help their cause.

The defending champions looked ready to wrap up the title in Set 3, with FEU not even putting skipper Bernadeth Pons in the game to start the frame. La Salle briefly trailed, 7-10, but proceeded to win 12 of the next 14 rallies to seize control, 19-12.

Again, Dy and Baron were the sparks of the comeback, as they scored at will and anchored the Lady Spikers' net defense while ace libero Dawn Macandili took care of business in the back row. La Salle came one point away from the title, 24-20, thanks to an ace by Michelle Cobb, and the green side of the Big Dome was ready to erupt.

FEU, however, would not go down easily. With Pons firing darts at the service line, the Lady Spikers were suddenly unable to convert on offense, and Jerrili Malabanan stepped up to score a couple of crucial attack points, the second of which tied the frame at 24.

"Noong moment na nakadikit ang FEU sa amin, 'di ba nag-(24) all? Sabi ko sa teammates ko, kaunting tiyaga lang 'to. Makukuha din namin 'yung pinaghirapan namin. Nag-tiyaga lang kami," said Macandili.

It was Dy who once again came to La Salle's rescue, swiping the ball off the FEU blockers to bring the Lady Spikers to championship point once more. The final rally featured several exchanges, with La Salle seemingly unable to convert despite the Lady Tamaraws giving up free balls. Finally, third-year spiker Tin Tiamzon scored off an awkward hit, an offspeed attack that FEU libero Buding Duremdes mishandled.

"Sinabi ko nga sa players na huwag muna tayong mag-celebrate kasi hindi pa tapos 'yung laban. 'Yung FEU, hindi nagi-give up," de Jesus noted. "'Yun nga, hindi talaga nag-give up."

Ultimately, however, La Salle's championship poise once again spelled the difference, as the Lady Spikers came through with the timely hits in crunch time while FEU fell short.

Dy finished the game with 19 points, while Baron and Tiamzon each had 10 points. Macandili earned Finals MVP honors after contributing eight excellent receptions and 21 digs, once again wowing the crowd with her "buwis buhay" dives.

The Lady Tamaraws were able to limit their errors, committing only 21 this time around after a ghastly 34-error performance in Game 1. But they struggled to handle La Salle's service, giving up eight aces in the contest.

Pons wrapped up her UAAP career with a 17-point, 15-dig, 15-reception triple-double, but no other FEU player scored in double-digits. Domingo came closest, with only seven points.

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