Lady Tams, Pirates rip rivals to boost QF bids

MANILA, Philippines - Far Eastern U and Lyceum fashioned out a pair of straight-set victories over the league’s two newcomers to move up to joint third in the Shakey’s V-League Season 7 second conference at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

The Lady Tams clipped the National U Lady Bulldogs with their power game and rolled to an easy 25-11, 25-19, 25-14 romp while the Lady Pirates fought off a stubborn Perpetual Help side to hack out a 26-24, 25-16, 25-21 win in the first game.

The twin victories boosted FEU and Lyceum’s quarterfinal bids as they improved to 3-2 for a share of third heading into the crucial phase of the single round-robin elims of the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

The Tams unloaded 39 kills against the Lady Bulldogs’ measly 16-attack output with Rachelle Anne Daquis and Monique Tiangco leading the charge with 11 and 10 hits, respectively.

The top NU hitters failed to get the most from their set-up and quick plays with guest player Denise Santiago emerging the team’s top scorer with just eight points.

Mervic Mangui, who normed 15 points heading into the match, was held to just four points along with Elaine Sagun and Maricar Nepomuceno to typify the Bulldogs’ game-long struggle in the face of the Pirates’ superb all-around game.

Cherry Vivas added eight hits while Wenneth Eulalio, Michelle Carolino, Kathlene Magsumbol and Rose Vargas combined for 21 points for good measure.

The loss dropped NU to 2-2 for joint fifth with Adamson while Perpetual Help slid farther back at 1-4 and in danger of missing the quarterfinals in the tournament organized by Sports Vision and backed by Accel, Mikasa and Excelroof.

The Lady Pirates neutralized the Altas superb blocking with timely hits, pooling 48 spikes against their rivals’ 33, while holding their own in floor defense and reception, clinching the win in 1:13.

Although Lyceum did it in three, the Lady Pirates had to sweat it out to pull through, needing an extra point in the opening frame before hanging tough in the third.

Former MVP Mary Jean Balse rammed in 20 kills for a 21-hit output to lead the Lady Pirates’ charge. She drew solid backup from Joy Cases and Dahlia Cruz, who tossed in 15 and 11 points, respectively.

The Altas stunned their fancied rivals with 11 blocks, more than doubling Lyceum’s five-block output, with guest player Nica Guliman and Sandra delos Santos coming up with five and four, respectively.

But Perpetual Help fell short in its offense with Guliman knocking in 11 attacks for a 16-point performance and de los Santos adding eight kills before winding up with 14 points.