Pons, Basas power Lady Tams vs Stags

MANILA, Philippines -  Far Eastern University rolled past a Grethcel Soltones-less San Sebastian, 25-17, 25-21, 25-14, yesterday to gain an early share of the Group A lead in the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

Bernadeth Pons unloaded 13 hits, including eight on kills and two on aces, while Toni Rose Basas added 11 markers as the Lady Tams matched the Ateneo Lady Eagles’ straight-set romp over the Jose Rizal U Lady Bombers in Saturday’s opener of the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.

“We played as a team and that made it a lot easier for us,” said Pons.

The lopsided triumph also served as a big welcome win for FEU coach George Pascua, who took over from Shaq delos Santos a few months back.

And Pascua liked what he saw.

“The important thing is to maximize everyone’s potential and apply our game plan every time,” he said.

The Lady Stags sorely missed the services of Soltones, the former NCAA three-time MVP, who with Kath Villegas have already played their last season with the Recoletos-based school.

After showing token resistance in the opening frame, the Lady Stags put up a gutsy stand in the second set but ran out of ammunition in the face of the Lady Tams’ strong finish.

SSC tried to trade hits with FEU in the early part of the third, but Pascua made some adjustments and the Lady Tams responded, to complete the straight-set romp on a Pons ace.

Celine Domingo and Jeanette Villareal also combined for 17 hits for FEU, which is grouped with Ateneo, National U, Lyceum, JRU and SSC in Group A with Arellano U showing the way in Group B which includes UP, Technological Institute of the Phl, San Beda, Adamson and St. Benilde.

The Lady Stags scored 24 attack points but yielded 21 points off miscues.

Nikka Dalisay paced SSC with 10 points while Daurene Santos and Joyce Sta. Rita combined for 12 markers for the Recoletos-based squad.

Meanwhile, San Beda recovered from a third set defeat and thwarted Technological Institute of the Philippines, 25-13, 25-18, 25-27, 25-13, to join Arellano U in the Group B lead.

The Red Spikers looked headed for a trouble-free debut after dominating the Lady Engineers in the first two quarters. But they sputtered in the third, enabling the TIP side to steal the set on deuce points before re-imposing their will in the fourth to clinch the victory.

Earlier, title favorite Ateneo bucked an opening set defeat to turn back Far Eastern U, 20-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-20, and kick off its title drive in the men’s division of the season-ending conference backed by Mikasa and Asics.

Mark Espejo unleashed a monster 27-hit effort, including 24 attack points, to power the Eagles, the UAAP champions, to an early share of the Group B lead with fancied National U.

The Bulldogs, also set in motion their  campaign by routing San Beda, 25-15, 25-16, 25-18, to join the lead pack.

Skipper Francis Philip Saura and Fauzi Ismail took turns and finished with 17 and 16 points, respectively, for the Bulldogs.