Adamson Stuns SSC-Excelroof

Former national team standout Michelle Laborte failed to attend the team's practice this week because of other pressing matters.

But whether she still needed it, her performance on Thursday did not show as Laborte helped Adamson stun San Sebastian-Excelroof, 16-25, 26-24, 25-23, 16-25, 15-10, in a win that foiled the SSC spikers' bid for the first quarterfinal berth in the 7th Shakey's V-League at The Arena in San Juan.

The 30-year-old Laborte took charge in the deciding set, coming through with bombs and blocks that helped the Lady Falcons post the biggest win so far in the tournament.

The win, their third in five games, likewise boosted their own bid to clinch a berth in the next round.

"She missed the practice this week, but it's OK. She's a veteran and she can adjust easily," said Adamson mentor Dulce Pante of their Bacolod native guest player, a member of the RP beach volleyball team to the 2007 Thailand Southeast Asian Games.

The 5-foot-9 Laborte unloaded 11 hits and had five of the team's 14 blocks as the Lady Falcons ended the SSC belles' unbeaten run to four.

The Lady Falcons battled back from an opening set defeat to take a 2-1 set lead, but wavered in the fourth before dominating the extra set behind Laborte, fellow guest player Nerissa Bautista and team captain Angela Benting.

Bautista, who just recovered from flu, finished with 21 hits while Benting had 13 for the Lady Falcons who forged a three-way tie at third with Far Eastern University and Lyceum.

Thai import Jaroensri Bualee poured the bulk of her 26 hits in the fourth frame as SSC took a 21-13 lead to gain the momentum heading into the final set.

But Laborte turned things around for her teammates, coming through with consecutive blocks to open the set before Benting and Bautista joined the fray for a commanding 7-1 lead.

The SSC spikers came within 9-13 behind the forays of Bualee, but it proved not enough as Laborte wrapped up the match in one hour and 46 minutes with a quick kill.

The Recto-based lasses can still clinch a quarterfinal slot in the event backed by Mikasa, Accel and Excelroof, with a win opposite newcomer National University on Sunday at 4 p.m.

Francis Santiago, Manila Bulletin