Shakey's V-League: Lady Stags force do or die Game 3

MANILA, Philippines—Thai import Jeng Bualee came through with a virtuoso performance as San Sebastian-Excelroof forced a winner-take-all Game 3 for the Shakey’s V-League Season 7 Second Conference title by carving out a 24-26, 25-23, 25-22, 25-20 victory over Adamson before a huge Sunday crowd at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The 5-foot-10 Bualee, still in search of her first V-League title in her sixth conference with San Sebastian, finished with 27 points on top of 13 excellent digs as the Lady Stags destroyed the aura of invincibility that the Lady Falcons built against them in the tournament.

“This win doesn’t mean anything if we don’t win the championship on Thursday,” said San Sebastian coach Roger Gorayeb, whose squad registered its first victory over Adamson in four meetings so far.

Analyn Benito proved stellar when Bualee was on the backline, tossing 19 points, while Suzanne Roces, adjudged the tournament Most Valuable Player before the game, contributed 13 points, including the game-clinching hit on a running set from Bamcie Belen.

Behind Bualee, the league’s best scorer, and Benito, the Lady Stags fought back resoundingly after yielding the first set, where service errors from Belen and Roces doomed their chances.

San Sebastian nearly wasted a nine-point advantage in the third set as Adamson closed in at 21-23. Benito and Bualee then delivered as the Lady Stags moved within a set of victory.

The Lady Stags broke away from an 11-10 count in the fourth set, after five straight errors from Angela Benting, who was held to just nine points after finishing with 21 in Game 1.

Putting emphasis on net defense, which has become a hallmark of Adamson’s success in the tournament, San Sebastian figured out a way to neutralize Pau Soriano’s attacks at the center, which had caused confusion on defense since Adamson’s five-set victory in Game 1.

“We were able to adjust on our rotation that’s why we were able to check Soriano,” said Gorayeb.

Lyceum subdued Far Eastern U, 21-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-11, to complete a two-game sweep of their series for third place.

Adamson earlier collared majority of the individual awards through libero Angelica Vasquez, Benting (best receiver) and Soriano (best blocker).

Former UST star Mary Jean Balse, tapped by Lyceum as its guest player in the tournament, bagged the best attacker award, while teammate Nicole Tabafunda took the best setter award. FEU’s Rachel Daquis was named best server.

Cedelf Tupas, Phil. Daily Inquirer