Lady Maroons gain V-League semis, rip Stags

MANILA, Philippines – University of the Philippines brought down NCAA champion San Sebastian College, 25-17, 23-25, 25-5, 25-18, yesterday to nail the third semifinal berth in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Collegiate Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

The Lady Maroons broke away from a tight first set duel with a strong windup then bounced back from a close second set defeat with a pair of lopsided victories to trounce the Lady Stags to finish with a 3-2 slate behind National U and Far Eastern U.

Skipper Kathy Bersola turned in a solid 20-hit game, including 10 kills on one-step attack and an impressive eight-block effort to lead the Lady Maroons past the stunned Lady Stags and into a dream Final Four stint in the league sponsored by Shakey’s.

Despite the loss, San Sebastian stayed in the semis hunt as Far Eastern U swept Ateneo, 25-18, 25-19, 25-22, later in the night, sending the Lady Stags and the Lady Eagles to a knockout match for the fourth and last Final Four seat.

SSC and Ateneo wound up with identical 2-3 cards. They dispute the slot on Saturday at 6 p.m., also at Philsports.

FEU also tied NU’s 4-1 mark but took the No. 1 spot in the semis.

UP went on a scoring binge to break from a 12-all count in the opening frame to score the eight-point win then bounced back from a second set defeat with a smashing triumph in the third that saw the Lady Maroons hold the Lady Stags to just five points.

SSC failed to recover from that slump, enabling UP to control the fourth on its way to victory and into the semis of the tournament backed by Mikasa as official ball and Accel as official outfitter.

Meanwhile, La Salle outpointed Far Eastern U in a thrilling fifth set duel, hacking out a 20-25, 25-23, 26-24, 21-25, 15-8 victory to clinch the coveted semifinal berth in the Spikers Turf Season 2 Collegiate Conference.

The Archers finished the elims with a 4-1 card in Group A to join the National U Bulldogs in the Final Four.

Earlier, University of Santo Tomas subdued Emilio Aguinaldo College, 25-20, 25-12, 29-27, for a 4-1 slate to gain the other semis seat in Group B.