Games Thursday (The Arena, San Juan)
2 p.m. – Lyceum vs NU
4 p.m. – FEU vs Ateneo
FAR Eastern University made a huge setback in its Final Four bid in the 7th Shakey’s V-League second conference after bowing to Lyceum of the Philippines University at the Arena in San Juan Sunday.
Bannered by guest player Mary Jean Balse, the Lady Pirates blanked the Lady Tamaraws 25-18, 27-25, 25-21 to earn their own semifinal quest in the season-ending tournament.
Balse sizzled for 24 points, while co-guest player Dahlia Cruz and Joy Cases punched in 23 markers to complete the sweep of FEU, which saw top player Rachel Anne Daquis ending up with a paltry nine-point output.
The Lady Pirates showed no mercy in their quest to bag this year’s title as they mightily subdued their opponents in the second set and score a four-point cushion in the final frame to upset the Lady Tamaraws.
Cherry May Vivas topscored for FEU with 12 hits while Michelle Carolina contributed 10 markers for the losing bid of the Morayta-based tossers.
Lyceum improved to 6-5 (win-loss card) while FEU slipped to 5-6.
In the other contests, title favorite San Sebastian-Excelroof repulsed Ateneo in a big third set comeback to complete a 25-19, 25-17, 27-25 victory and gain the top spot in the Final Four.
The Lady Stags, after taking the first two sets, trailed the Lady Eagles majority of the third but made one big run in the stretch, forcing a tie at 23.
Ateneo still took the next point but San Sebastian won four of the next five points to clinch the victory in 72 minutes.
With the loss, the Katipunan-based ladies are hard-pressed to beat FEU in the final playdate on Thursday in the tournament organized by Sports vision and backed by Accel, Mikasa and Excelroof.
Earlier, Adamson completed its sweep of the quarterfinal round in a three-set romp over ousted National University, 25-20, 25-14, 25-20.
SSC thus tied Adamson on top with 10-2 slates at the end of the quarters but the Lady Stags claimed the No. 1 spot in the Final Four with a superior quotient under FIVB rules.
The Lady Stags will meet the No.4 squad in the best-of-three semis which will commence next month. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)