UST, Ateneo advance

ATENEO and University of Santo Tomas took different routes but produced the same results as they hurdled their rivals to move closer to a dream title showdown in the ninth Shakey’s V-League Presented by Smart at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

The Lady Eagles survived the longest first set played in the season-opening conference then toughened in the next two to complete a 31-29, 25-20, 25-19 victory over Perpetual Help while the Tigresses blew a 2-0 set lead but hung tough in the decider to pull off a 25-11, 25-17, 23-25, 21-25, 15-8 win at the start of the Final Four.

The twin victories put Ateneo and UST a win away from sealing a title clash between the current leading squad against the former dominant team in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

Alyssa Valdez and Thai Phee Nok Kesinee played true to form and combined for 29 hits while Jorella de Jesus came off the bench late in the second set to fire nine points for a team already teeming with talents.

Fille Cainglet and Dzi Gervacio were held to six hits apiece but the Lady Eagles got the job done just the same, keeping their unbeaten run from the elims to the quarters after a shaky first-set stint. Skipper Gretchen Ho, however, sustained a swollen patella tendon and finished with four points.

Valdez scored on a drop shot and a kill off a quick set to give Ateneo a 24-19 lead before Jamenea Ferrer hit a service ace to the open spot between Sandra Delos Santos and Angelique Dionela to wrap up the 1:17 contest.

Valdez also fired a kill down the line off a Ferrer set, then the Eagles clinched the tough first set win after Thai Kunbang Pornpimol committed a service error. (PR)