Falcons, Bulldogs rip rivals, share 3rd

MANILA, Philippines - Adamson leaned on guest players Nerissa Bautista and Michelle Laborte’s killer blows in the deciding fifth to overhaul a 1-2 set deficit and beat Lyceum, 25-20, 22-25, 21-25, 25-16, 15-7, yesterday in the Shakey’s V League Season 7 second conference at the Arena in San Juan.

Bautista and Laborte presided over the Lady Falcons’ searing attack in the decider, punching in the kills as Adamson bounced back from a 4-5 disadvantage to post an 11-5 cushion.

It was the San Marcelino-based spikers’ second straight win in the season-ending tournament sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza since dropping their opening match to University of Perpetual for a share of third place of National U (2-1).

“We still lack the killer’s instinct, that’s why we had to go through five sets today,” said AdU coach Minerva Dulce Pante, who also cited the impressive performances of the Bautista and Laborte.

Despite skipping training for two days due to flu, Bautista exploded with 26 points, making 23 of them on spikes. Laborte, for her part, delivered the crucial kills and blocks in the decider for a total of 14.

The Lady Falcons also got big games from Angela Benting (18) and Paulina Soriano (11) in dealing Lyceum its second loss in three games. Guest Mary Jean Balse paced the Lady Pirates with 25.

Earlier, NU got back on the winning track as it thrashed University of Perpetual Help in straight sets, 25-14, 25-20, 25-22.

After getting waylaid by the Adamson Lady Falcons last Sunday, the Lady Bulldogs were all business and vented their ire on the Lady Altas, fashioning out the victory in only 67 minutes, their second in three starts for third.

Mervic Mangui, who exploded for 26 points in NU’s debut win over College of St.Benilde but was held down to a dismal seven in their setback to the Lady Falcons, rebounded with a 14-point effort she highlighted by 13 kills.

Guest player Aleona Denise Santiago also punched in 14 hits for the Lady Bulldogs while Elaine Sagun, another player shackled in their setback to Adamson, finished in double figures as she converted 10 spikes and posted three service winners for 13 points overall.

“We really prepared hard after that loss to Adamson,” NU coach Francis Vicente said, referring to the Lady Bulldogs’ 17-25, 19-25, 21-25 setback to the San Marcelino-based spikers.

NU’s net defense also forced the top Perpetual spikers to struggle as the Lady Altas produced just 22 hits, almost half of the 41-hit job delivered by the Lady

Bulldogs in underscoring their readiness to vie for at least a berth in the quarterfinal round of the tournament sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

The Bustillos-based squad, which beat St. Benilde in the opener of the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision, also outclassed Perpetual in the service department, scoring seven against none by the Lady Altas.

No one among the Lady Altas logged in a double-digit output with guest player Nasella Nica Guliman and April Sartin managing only seven apiece.

It was the second straight setback for UPH, which failed to sustain the momentum of its upset win over Adamson last week. The Lady Altas now carry a 1-2 slate in the season-ending conference backed by Shakey’s, Accel, Mikasa and Excelroof.