Lady Falcons hold off gutsy Pirates in V-League

MANILA, Philippines - Adamson recovered from a five-point deficit in the deciding set to turn back Lyceum, 25-27, 25-20, 19-25, 25-11, 15-11, and get back into the thick of things in the sixth Shakey’s V-League at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

The defending champions flirted with disaster without guest player Nerissa Bautista, losing the opening and third sets and falling behind, 1-6, in the fifth frame as Lyceum’s reinforcement Dahlia Cruz came away with back-to-back service winners.

But the Lady Pirates failed to sustain their charge and cracked in the face of the Lady Falcons mighty comeback behind Pauline Soriano, who sparked Adamson’s 12-3 counterattack to wrest a 13-9 lead on their way to the victory, their second in three starts.

Rissa Jane Laguilles scored 17 hits while skipper Angela Benting, guest player Lilet Mabbayad and Soriano finished with 15, 14 and 12 points, respectively to neutralize Cruz’s 23-hit production for Lyceum.

“We had a hard time adjusting in the absence of Bautista. We lacked energy and cohesion,” said Adamson coach Dulce Pante in Filipino.

San Sebastian hardly worked out a sweat at it whipped St. Benilde, 25-12, 25-9, 25-17, in the second game to tie its victim and Ateneo in fourth with 1-1 slate a piece.

Thai import Bualee Jaroensri, back in the SSC fold, fired 20 hits, including 16 kills, to spearhead last yeaer’s second conference’s champions one-hour romp after dropping their opening day game to the UST Tigresses.

The Lady Falcons compounded their woes with the benching of Jill Gustilo, one of the team’s top hitters, for disciplinary action.

It was a sorry setback for the Lady Pirates, who also drew 18 points from Nica Guliman and Joy Cases in their strongest showing to date in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and organized by Sports Vision.

Trailing 1-2, Adamson still trailed, 17-18, in the fourth set but surged ahead behind Laguilles and Benting as the Lady Falcons pounced on the Pirates’ series of errors.