SSC spikers buck shaky start, thwart Lady Tams

Former NCAA four-peat titlist San Sebastian College overcame a jittery start as it rallied from a set down and swept the next three for a 13-25, 25-23, 25-18, 30-28 victory over a pesky Far Eastern University side in a duel of debuting teams in the Shakey’s V-League at the Lyceum Gym yesterday.

Jeanne Espolong smashed one in to deliver the final point for the SSC belles, who fashioned out the hard-earned victory in over two hours in a game that also produced a lot of heroines for the squad.

There’s the duo of Angela Descalsota and Jinni Mondejar, who proved to be equally unforgiving in the front as they relentlessly attacked the net, producing kills which the Lady Tams either failed to return or save.

"Medyo na-conscious sa TV ‘yung mga bata kaya ang sama ng simula," said San Sebastian coach Rogelio Gorayeb, who steered the Lady Stags to 15 NCAA titles including 11 straight from 1985-1996.

The event, sponsored by Shakey’s and organized by Sports Vision Management Group, Inc., is aired live on IBC-13.

"Kaya na-puwersa akong ipasok ‘yung mga baguhan ko," he added referring to Lorence Ann Latigay, who also tossed in some of the points with her equally solid spikes.

The smaller but quicker FEU volleybelles actually appeared in control in the early part of the match when it led by a set and then sat on a 23-22 cushion in the second frame mostly courtesy of Ruby May Rovira’s power hits.

But the Lady Stags recovered in time with crisp kills by Mondejar and a pair of reception errors by the Lady Tams that tied the game at one set apiece.

From there, San Sebastian was a different team as Espolong, Latigay, Mondejar and Descalsota unleashed their powerful net game to dominate the third set.

FEU, which dominated the UAAP women’s volley competition in the late 90s, however, refused to give up as it rallied from 3-6 down, grabbed a 24-22 lead and appeared on its way to forcing a decider.

But a pair of service winners by setter Ma. Elena Mayo tied the count at 24-all only to commit a service error, enabling FEU to regain a 25-24 edge and another chance of forcing an extra set.

But that was the closest the Lady Tams could get as the Lady Stags outscored their rivals, 5-3, then moved in for the kill with Espolong hitting the final point on a solid smash from the left front.