Lady Blazers sweep Jaguars, stay in race

MANILA, Philippines - St. Benilde kept its quarterfinal hopes alive as it swept University of San Jose-Recoletos, 26-24, 25-18, 25-15, while San Sebastian College ousted a hapless Far Eastern U side, 25-9, 25-15, 25-6, in the Shakey’s V-League Season 7 at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Giza Yumang knocked in 12 hits, including 11 attacks, while guest player Rossan Fajardo and veteran Zharmaine Velez added 11 points each for the Blazers’ only victory after dropping their first three matches in the elimination round.

 But it was enough to keep the team in the race for the last quarterfinal berth with the Lady Blazers virtually assuring themselves of a playoff for the last slot in the tournament sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and presented by PLDT MyDSL.

“I‘m satisfied with the win and I always believed in them that they can pull it off,“ said St. Benilde coach Thelma Rojas.

The Blazers can even claim the outright seat in the next round in case USJ-R, which slid to 0-2, dropped its last two matches to Ateneo and Lyceum.

But the Jaguars will surely be going all out in their quest for at least a win in a bid to keep their hopes alive in the league organized by Sports Vision and backed by Accel, Mikasa and Mighty Bond.

But while St. Benilde survived, FEU got the boot as it bowed to fancied San Sebastian in the second game.

Thai import Jeng Bualee and Suzanne Roces combined for 40 hits while Joy Benito added 14 points for the Lady Stags, who streaked to their third straight win and towed Southwestern U, with a 1-2 mark, to the next round together with University of St. La Salle (1-1).

The Lady Tams, who finished third in the last conference of the league, closed out with a 0-4 slate.

“We are now in the quarterfinals and it‘s a good feeling because we can concentrate on scouting future opponents,“ said SSC coach Roger Gorayeb. “We just need to be consistent on our level of play and take it one game at a time. Hopefully we’ll reach the finals.“

Giza Yumang fired 12 hits while guest player Rossan Fajardo and veteran Zharmaine Velez added 11 points apiece to spearhead the Lady Blazers’ romp over the former CESAFI champions.