Tigresses trounce Lady Tams, close in on PVL finals

MANILA, Philippines — University of Santo Tomas roused from a lethargic start as it turned back Far Eastern University for the second time in five days, 16-25, 26-24, 25-18, 25-23, and moved a win away from clinching a finals berth in the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Collegiate Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan Wednesday.

After a lackluster showing in the opening frame, the Tigresses wiped out an 18-22 deficit in the second behind Milena Alessandrini and Caitlin Viray, pulled away halfway in the third on Eya Laure’s attacks then survived a near foldup in the fourth, 24-19, clinching the set and the match on the Lady Tams’ Heather Guino-o’s service error.

UST thus scored a repeat of its 25-15, 25-27, 25-18, 22-25, 15-11 victory in their elims meeting in Cagayan de Oro last Saturday. The Tigresses go for the clincher tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the same venue.

While the second seeded UST lived up to its billing to foil the third ranked FEU side, the No. 4 University of the Philippines shocked the top seeded and erstwhile unbeaten Adamson in their side of the best-of-three semis, 19-25, 25-22, 25-20 on Marian Buitre’s game-long brilliance.

The Lady Maroons also gun for the other finals berth at 4 p.m.

Laure fired 19 points built on 15 spikes and four blocks, Alessandrini dropped 16 points she spiked with 13 digs and eight excellent receptions, Tin Francisco scored 10 while Ysabel Jimenez chipped in nine for the Tigresses.