Letran spanks Lyceum in Shakey’s V-League

Letran College came through with crucial plays in the deciding fifth set as it turned back a tough Lyceum side in a thriller of a five-setter, 25-22, 25-21, 22-25, 13-25; 15-12, yesterday to jumpstart its title bid in inaugural staging of the Shakey’s V-League at the Lyceum Gym.

Three straight points on a pair of crisp smashes by Joana Marie Fernandez and Genalyn Alemania and a spike by Lyceum’s Maria Angelica Bucas that went wide shattered a 12-all deadlock and sealed the Knights victory after a grueling two-and-a-half top-notch volleyball encounter.

But it was Letran’s defense that keyed the win.

"Ang crucial sa game na ito ay ang depensa namin hindi lang sa net pati na rin sa likod," said Letran coach Ernesto Pamilar, who also coached the Far Eastern Tamaraws to six UAAP titles in the 90s.

Twice Letran trailed in the early goings of the first two sets but bounced back on both occasions to seize a commanding 2-0 lead, thanks to superb court coverage and frontline defense that contained Lyceum’s power-hitting duo of Bucas and Dahlia Cruz.

Earlier, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Celso Dayrit, Shakey’s owner and former PBA commissioner Leo Prieto and Channel 13 head Philip Ella Juico graced the opener of the six-week long event sponsored by Shakey’s and organized by Sports Vision Management Group, Inc.

Letran was poised to sealing the victory after rallying from 9-13 down to take a 19-18 advantage in the third frame but Lyceum mustered enough energy to grab seven of the last 10 points and the set that cut the latter’s deficit at 1-2.

Playing with renewed confidence, the Lyceum lady spikers dominated the fourth set as Beverly Boto and Jenny Rose Garcia took charge as the hosts tied the match to force an extra set.

The reed-thin but solid-hitting Fernando unleashed a flurry of kills as Letran roared to a 6-1 start before Lyceum slowly but surely clawed back to knot the count at 12-all.

With Lyceum almost digging its way out of a deep hole, Fernando came to his team’s rescue again with a solid kill before Alemania came up with another from the wings to shove the team to a 14-12 lead.

Then came Bucas’ boner of a smash, thanks to a solid defense put up by Fernando and Khristine Basco.

It was indeed a fitting kickoff for the event staged to revive women’s volleyball sponsored by Shakey’s and organized by Sports Vision Management Group, Inc. with Philippine Olympic Committee president Celso Dayrit, IBC 13 chair Philip Ella Juico and Shakey’s owner and former PBA commissioner Leo Prieto gracing the occasion.

Also highlighting the opening ceremonies was the traditional parade of colors of the six participating squads that also include reigning UAAP, UniGames and CHED Palaro champion La Salle, UST, FEU and San Sebastian College.