UST spikers near V-League semis

MANILA, Philippines - Univ. of Santo Tomas assured itself of a playoff for a semifinal berth as it thumped Univ. of San Jose-Recoletos, 25-6, 25-19, 25-19, to notch its third straight victory in the sixth Shakey’s V-League at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Mary Jean Balse fired 15 hits while fellow guest player Michelle Carolino and skipper Aiza Maizo scattered 11 points apiece for the Tigresses, who dominated the first set but had to flex more muscle in the next two to dispose of the Cebu-based squad.

The Tigresses, seeking their fourth championship in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and presented by Cherifer, outhit their rivals, 51-26, with their quick plays behind Balse and Maizo.

After scoring only six points in the opening frame, the Jaguars put their act together and kept the game close in the next two sets but just couldn’t sustain their charge in the face of the Tigresses’ superb all-around game.

Erica Verano unloaded 10 points but failed to draw solid support from the rest of the crew as USJ-R fell to its third straight loss in the tournament organized by Sports Vision and backed by Accel, Mikasa, Mighty Bond and OraCare.

Earlier, Adamson bounced back from its setback to UST with a 25-21, 25-13, 25-10 victory over Univ. of St. La Salle-Bacolod to resume its hunt for a spot in the semifinal round.

Rissa Jane Laguilles, held to five points in their four-set loss to UST last Thursday, went on attack mode against USLS-Bacolod, finishing with 11 hits as she backed Nerissa Bautista’s 17 kills to anchor the victory.