Tigresses survive Lady Eagles for solo lead

University of Santo Tomas held off the rallying Ateneo side with a gutsy stint in the fourth set as it fashioned out a 25-22, 25-17, 20-25, 25-23 victory yesterday to seize the solo lead in the semifinal round of the 2005 Shakey’s V-League first conference at the Rizal Coliseum.

Roxanne Pimentel came through with 19 points she spiked with 12 attacks while three others churned out double-digit scores as the Tigresses rolled to their second straight victory in the double-round phase of this event sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

UST outlasted Ateneo in the opening frame, dominated its rival in the second but staggered in the face of the Lady Eagles’ fiery comeback in the third set. But the Tigresses proved steadier in a pressure-packed fourth-set battle, outlasting the Katipunan-based spikers to prevail.

Other scorers for UST were Mary Jean Balse, Joyce Pano and Venus Bernal, who had 15, 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Amerlia Guanco knocked in 13 points on attacks and finished with a team-high 16 points while Patricia Taganas and Michelle Laborte chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively for the Lady Eagles.

Ateneo, which stunned elims topnotcher La Salle last Saturday, dropped to second with a 1-1 slate, the same card put in by the Lady Archers, who thumped the San Sebastian Lady Stags earlier, 25-20, 25-15, 25-16.

Skipper Maureen Pentrante, Michelle Carolino and Desiree Hernandez combined for 36 hits to power the Lady Archers, champions in last year’s second conference, to the victory that more than made up for their embarrassing 25-19, 15-25, 23-25, 17-25 loss to the Lady Eagles Saturday.

"Nung natalo kami sa Ateneo, hindi kami dumedepensa, walang coordination," said La Salle coach Ramil de Jesus, also the mentor of the national women’s squad participating in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games set Nov. 27-Dec. 5 in RP.

The victory likewise snapped the Taft-based spikers’ three-game skid, counting their last two at the close of the elims, and it is likely to boost the morale of the team heading into the crucial phase of the double-round semis phase of this event backed by Accel, Mikasa, Dunkin’ Donuts, IBC 13 and Jemah Television.

"Ngayon, medyo naka-recover na, gumaganda na ulit ang takbo ng team at tumataas na ulit ang morale ng mga bata," he added.

The La Salle-San Sebastian match will be aired at 7 tonight on IBC-13.

La Salle also drew a solid game from setter Reiea Ferina Saet, now in her usual devastating form after struggling against the Lady Eagles due to fever.

In fact, Saet dished out 34 excellent sets that created numerous opportunities for Penetrante, 2004 second conference MVP Carolino and 2003 UAAP MVP Hernandez at the net.

"Malaking tulong talaga ang setter namin lalo na ngayon maganda ginawa niya maski galing kasi siya sa sakit," said de Jesus of Saet.

National team standout Cherry Rose Macatangay sizzled with 16 hits but again got little support from her teammates with skipper Jennifer Bohawe held to nine points for the second straight game as the Recoletos-based squad took its second straight defeat after an impressive stint in the elims.