SSC raps Ateneo to pace V-League

MANILA, Philippines - San Sebastian-Excelroof showed too much power and poise as it essayed a straight-set 25-22, 25-17, 26-24 victory over Ateneo to wrest the solo lead in the Shakey’s V-League Season 7 second conference at The Arena in San Juan City late Thursday.

Jeng Bualee outscored Thai counterpart Surasawadee Boonyuen, knocking down 19 kills for a 20-point output and presiding a ferocious SSC attack from both sides that the Eagles had failed to neutralize – on the net and on the floor.

Suzanne Roces and Melissa Mirasol backed Bualee with 13 and 11 hits with Mirasol teaming up with Dafna Robiños to account for half of the Lady Stags’ 10 blocks in the match that took just 68 minutes to finish.

The Eagles actually put up a tough stand all throughout but just couldn’t deliver when it mattered most, enabling the Recoletos-based spikers to pound out the victory, their third straight in the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

The loss dropped Ateneo to 2-1, joining Adamson and a surging National U side in second as the race for the six quarterfinal berths expected to heat up starting tomorrow.

The Lady Falcons pulled off a five-set thriller over the Lyceum Lady Pirates, fighting back from a set down twice before pouring it all out in the decider to complete a come-from-behind 20-25, 22-25, 21-25, 25-16, 15-7 victory.

NU, on the other hand, swept fellow newcomer Perpetual Help, 25-14, 25-20, 25-22, to likewise firm up its bid for a quarterfinal berth in the tournament organized by Sports Vision.

The Lady Stags, who also drew eight hits from Joy Benito and another eight points from the combined efforts of Elaine Cruz, Jennelyn Belen and Robiños, held Boonyuen to seven spikes with the Ateneo import finishing with just 10 points.

No other Lady Eagle churned out a double-digit score with guest player Alyssa Valdez settling for eight points and Fille Cainglet and Angeline Gervacio finishing with seven hits apiece. Bea Pascual and Denise Acevedo had five points each.

Lyceum slid to 1-2 for a share of fifth with Perpetual and Far Eastern U while St. Benilde remained winless after three games in the league backed by Accel, Mikasa and Excelroof.