Tigresses repulse Lady Falcons, boost semis bid

MANILA, Philippines - University of Santo Tomas blew a two-set lead but recovered in time to repulse Adamson, 25-19, 25-20, 22-25, 16-25, 15-7, and assure itself of a playoff for a semifinal berth in the Shakey’s V-League Season 10 before a big Sunday crowd at The Arena in San Juan.

Ingrid Reyes came off the bench to combine with Pam Lastimosa for six hits in the decider, giving the Tigresses a big cushion at 12-6 before taking three of the next four points to clinch the hard-earned victory, their second straight in the single-round, two-group quarterfinal phase.

UST, a six-time champion in the league sponsored by Shakey’s, tries to formalize its stint in the semis against Perpetual Help on Thursday. The Las Piñas-based squad, with a 0-1 card, needs to sweep its last two games against San Sebastian tomorrow and UST to force a tie for first.

Adamson wound up its quarters stint with a 2-1 slate.

National U turned its expected fierce showdown with Ateneo in a one-sided contest, fashioning out a 25-15, 25-12, 26-24 victory to likewise move closer to a dream Final Four stint.

Myla Pablo fired 13 hits, Aiko Urdas chipped in 10 points while the Santiago sisters – Dindin and Jaja – and setter Rubie de Leon combined for 27 markers as the Lady Bulldogs dominated the Lady Eagles to post a 2-0 record in the quarters.

NU beat Ateneo off the spikes, 43-18, to anchor their lopsided victory.

The Lady Eagles, who drew just eight hits apiece from Alyssa Valdez and Rachel Anne Daquis, closed out their quarters campaign with a 2-1 card, assured of at least a playoff for the second semis seat like Adamson.

For a while, the Lady Falcons looked headed for a big comeback when they battled back from two sets down and took the next two frames. But the Tigresses put their act together in the fifth with Reyes stepping up to score three points.