Lady Bulldogs repel Maroons, enhance bid for top spot

MANILA, Philippines - National U fought back from an error-filled first-set foldup with a sweep of the next three, repulsing University of the Philippines, 23-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-19, yesterday to firm up its bid for the No. 1 spot in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Collegiate Conference at the Philsports Arena yesterday.

The Lady Bulldogs dominated the Lady Maroons in spikes (60-46), blocks (9-2) and service (10-3) but nearly stumbled with too many miscues, 36 against their rivals’ 20. But they held sway, checked their endgame foldup in the second and fourth frames on erratic plays before leaning on Jaja Santiago, Risa Sato and Jorelle Singh to thwart the Lady Maroons’ series of fightbacks, pound out the 92-minute victory and close out their quarterfinals campaign with a 4-1 card.

Far Eastern U, the other team in the semis of the mid-season conference of the league where it all started, totes a 3-1 mark.

UP dropped to 2-2 in a tie with San Sebastian with the Lady Maroons and the Lady Stags disputing the third semis berth tomorrow at the close of the single round quarters of the tournament sponsored by Shakey’s and backed by Mikasa as official ball and Accel as official outfitter.

“We committed a lot of errors in the first set, including service faults,” said NU coach Edjet Mabbayad.

Later in the night, Ateneo kept its semis hopes alive by beating UST, 25-22, 25-19, 25-19, to tie UP and SSC at 2-2.

But the Lady Eagles will need to hurdle second semifinalist the Far Eastern U Lady Tams tomorrow to clinch the last Final Four berth.

A loss to FEU, however, will pave the way for a playoff for the final semis seat against the loser in the SSC-UP duel.

Santiago unloaded a 21-hit game, Aiko Urdas pumped in 16 kills for a 20-point output while Sato stepped up to fire 13 hits, including five aces, as the Lady Bulldogs stayed in the hunt for a second straight championship after sweeping the Ateneo Lady Eagles in sudden death in last year’s finale.

In the Spikers’ Turf Season 2 Collegiate Conference, Ateneo overwhelmed University of the Philippines, 25-21, 25-18, 25-12, to sweep Group B with a 5-0 and clinch the No. 1 spot in the Final Four.

Paul Koyfman scored 10 hits while Miguel Villanueva and Marck Espejo backed him up with eight markers apiece as the defending champions primed up for the semis against the No. 4 squad.