Lady Pirates pillage rivals, catch leaders

Lyceum put its act together in the fourth set and held off Far Eastern University to hack out a 26-24, 25-23, 16-25, 25-19 victory yesterday to join Ateneo and Adamson in the lead in the second conference of the V-League presented by Shakey’s at the Blue Eagle Gym.

Con-Con Legaspi came away with 18 points, including 16 on attacks while Dahlia Cruz and Beverly Boto provided the defense up front, combining for five blocks that keyed the Lady Pirates’ win.

"It was tough defense that decided it," said Lyceum coach Emil Lontoc, who steered the Muralla-based school to last year’s WNCAA title, in Filipino.

The Lady Pirates and the Lady Tams, the 2005 University Games champions, fought fiercely in the first two sets but the former proved better, thanks to its rock-solid net defense.

But the Kit Santos-mentored FEU squad made Lyceum pay for its complacency after the Lady Pirates went two sets up, easily seizing the third to stay alive in this league presented by Shakey’s Pizza and backed Mikasa and Accel and aired over ABC-5.

But Lyceum recovered in time as Legaspi, who was part of La Salle’s title conquest last conference, spewed crisp kills one after another to finish off the Morayta-based school.

La Salle and San Sebastian, the UAAP and NCAA champion respectively, were still playing at presstime, each eyeing a share of the lead.

Both the Lady Archers and the Lady Stags boast of tall, power-hitting Thai imports in Kanchana Jindarat and Boulee Jalernsi, respectively.

Adamson, last year’s UAAP losing finalist, trounced 2005 NCAA runner-up Philippine Christian U, 25-14, 25-20, 25-20, while Ateneo edged University of the East, 25-20, 25-17, 21-25, 20-25, 15-10, Saturday to grab an early share of the lead.