Lady Chiefs oust Maroons, book PVL CLeague Final 4

MANILA, Philippines — Arellano University fell short in a pulsating fourth set finish but went for the kill in the decider as it outlasted University of the Philippines, 22-25, 25-10, 25-19, 32-34, 15-3, to book a semis seat in Group B in the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan yesterday.

Necole Ebuen and Jovielyn Prado conspired for the Lady Chiefs at the onset of the fifth even as the Lady Maroons fell to errors early to give AU an 8-1 cushion en route to the one-sided finish for a 4-1 card.

The Lady Chiefs thus joined unbeaten Adamson in the next round while eliminating UP (3-2).

“Maybe fatigue set in on UP (in the fifth set). We also prepared well. I just told the players to give their all,” said AU coach Obet Javier.

The Lady Chiefs erased four set deficits in the fourth, the last at 20-24, before dragging the Lady Maroons to a back-and-fourth battle down the stretch which UP eventually took on back-to-back points.

However, AU came out recharged heading to the fifth set, holding UP to a measly three-point output to carve out the win.

Prado erupted with 26 points and 17 excellent receptions, Regine Arocha smashed in 25 markers and 21 digs while Ebuen and Andrea Marzan combined for 25 points for the Lady Chiefs.

Skipper Tots Carlos hammered 29 points while Isa Molde swung 20 for the Lady Maroons who suffered an injury scare late in the fourth set, with UP up 32-31, as Justine Dorog hurt her left knee on a bad fall.

National University squandered an eight-point edge in the fourth set but put its act together in the homestretch as it drubbed Ateneo, 25-21, 13-25, 25-19, 25-22, to sweep the elims and secure a semifinal seat in Group A.

The Lady Bulldogs lost hold of an 11-3 edge and dug themselves out of a 15-18 hole behind Aiko Urdas and Risa Sato in the fourth to stay unbeaten in five games while putting the Lady Eagles on the brink of elimination.

In the other match, College of Saint Benilde shook off a slow start as it halted fellow ousted squad Technological Institute of the Philippines, 18-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-22.