DEFENDING champion National University (NU) outhustled a vastly-improved University of the Philippines (UP), 23-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-19, to end its quarterfinals campaign on a high note in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Collegiate Conference on Monday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Jaja Santiago and Aiko Urdas combined for 41 points to lead the Lady Bulldogs in completing a three-game quarterfinals sweep and strengthen their hold of the top spot with a 4-1 win-loss card, their lone loss at the hands of Ateneo carried over from the elimination round.
Santiago topped all scorers with 21 points on 18 spikes, two blocks and an ace, while Urdas scattered 16 attacks and two service aces and blocks for 20 points.
Risa Sato and Jorelle Singh chipped in 13 and 11 points, respectively, and Jasmine Nabor paced NU with 38 excellent sets marked by eight hits.
“It’s a major accomplishment for us to enter the semifinals. It adds to our moral,” NU Assistant Coach Edjet Mabbayad said. Head Coach Roger Gorayeb is still in vacation in the US.
After falling short in the first set, the Lady Bulldogs bounced back for an 11-1 lead and extended their margin to 20-10. But the Lady Maroons fought back to close in at 22-19.
Both squads went toe-to-toe in the third set with NU slightly pulling away with a precarious 23-17 cushion. UP, however, stormed back to cut their deficit to 23-21.
Santiago stopped the bleeding and brought the Lady Bulldogs to set point only to squaner the lead that allowed UP to force deuce.
Santiago, however, again brought her team to set point and the Lady Maroons handed the set to the Lady Bulldogs with an attack error.
UP, led by Diana Carlos and Kathy Bersola with 12 and 11 points, respectively, failed to secure a semifinals seat with a 2-2 record. The Lady Maroons need to win their last quarterfinals match on Wednesday against San Sebastian (2-2) to keep their semifinals hope alive.
In the Spikers’ Turf also on Monday, defending champion Ateneo de Manila completed a five-game sweep in Group Bwith a rousing 25-21, 25-18, 25-12 victory over UP.
American Tony Koyfman led the Blue Eagles with 10 points. Marck Espejo and Joshua Villanueva chipped in eight points apiece, while Rex Intal and Ron Medalla added seven points each and setter Ish Polvorsa dished out 26 excellent sets on five hits.
The Fighting Maroons slid to 3-2 won-lost and found themselves scrambling for a semifinals berth.
College of Saint Benilde ended its Spikers’ Turf campaign with its first victory in five games at the expense of Philippine Merchant Marine School 25-17, 32-30, 29-27.
Johnvic De Guzman, the league’s leading scorer with a 95 points, powered the Blazers with 13 attacks and four blocks for 17 points, while Isaah Arda delivered 14 hits with nine digs.
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza