Lady Falcons bundle out Eagles, advance to quarters

MANILA, Philippines - Adamson rattled off seven straight points to overcome a three-point deficit in the fifth set and hack out a 23-25, 25-18, 26-24, 20-25, 15-11 thriller of a win over Ateneo-OraCare to clinch the last quarterfinal berth in the sixth Shakey’s V-League at The Arena in San Juan last night.

The Lady Falcons actually won eight of the last nine points, battling back from a 7-10 deficit in the decider to pound out the all-important victory over the Lady Eagles and keep their title retention bid alive in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

Pau Soriano delivered the last point on a kill, capping the San Marcelino-based squad’s stirring comeback and into the quarterfinal round along with University of Santo Tomas, San Sebastian, Far Eastern U and provincial teams University of San Jose-Recoletos and Univ. of St. La Salle-Bacolod.

MVP Nerissa Bautista unloaded 20 attacks and finished with 26 points, Rissa Jane Laguilles had 17 points while Pau Soriano and Jill Gustillo tossed in 13 points apiece for the Lady Falcons.

Thai import Sontaya Keawbundit held her own against the top Adamson defenders, firing 23 kills and finishing with 24 points, while Charo Soriano had 20 points,including 15 attacks for Ateneo, which also lost to Adamson in last year’s finale here.

It was a sorry setback for Ateneo, which looked headed for a first victory in eight games over Adamson. But the Lady Eagles failed to stop the Falcons’ attack and succumb to gnawing pressure of a down to the wire contest.

Earlier, University of St. La Salle-Bacolod subdued University of San Jose-Recoletos, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 25-23, in an exhibition match between the top provincial teams seeing action in the quarterfinal round of the tournament organized by Sports Vision and backed by Accel, Mikasa and OraCare.

For results and updates, log on to www.v-league.ph.