Thai’s sharp claws lift Ateneo past UST

Ateneo put on an amazing show in the last two sets as it repulsed University of Santo Tomas, 22-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-19, 15-6, in a rousing start to its Shakey’s V-League Second Conference campaign at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Thai guest player Lithawat Kesinee uncorked a 32-point performance in her debut while inspiring her co-players to step up and play to a higher level even when the chips were down after three sets.

Kesinee, who saw action in the 2001 and 2003 SEA Games, rammed in 24 kills to highlight her game-long exploits, imposing her will in the fourth and in the decider and lifting the Lady Eagles to the victory in two hours of thrilling volley action.

Patricia Taganas and Ma. Rosario Soriano combined for 25 points while Denise Acevedo, Karla Bello and Bea Pascual tossed in nine, seven and five points, respectively, to underscore Ateneo’s balanced offensive sock in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

The Tigresses, winners of the league’s first conference, looked headed for their second win after surging ahead, 2-1, with a tough 25-23 victory in the third set. But they failed to neutralize the Lady Eagles’ resurgence in the fourth before cracking up in the fifth.

Venus Bernal held her own against Kesinee, firing 25 points, including 18 attacks, while guest player Suzanne Roces and Angeli Tabaquero scored 13 and 12 points, respectively, for the Tigresses, who dropped to 1-1 after an opening day win over the La Salle tossers.

It was indeed an inspiring start for Ateneo, which is coming off a seventh and fifth place finishes in the last two conferences of the league organized by Sports Vision and backed by Mikasa, Accel, 100Plus Isotonic Drink and Active White Skin whitening products.

Meanwhile, Jun Mendoza of The Philippine STAR bagged the top P20,000 prize for winning the photo contest of the Shakey’s V-League first conference. August dela Cruz of Inquirer and Boy Garcia of Bulletin took the second and third prizes worth P15,000 and P10,000, respectively.

On hand during the awards rites were Vic Gregorio, Shakey’s general manager, Shakey’s marketing director Meggie Jose and commissioner Tony Boy Liao

For updates on the country’s premier volley league, features/forum on its top players, complete sked, stats, results and gallery, log on to www.v-league.ph.

The UST-Ateneo game will be shown on NBN-4 at 2 p.m. today.