SSC spikers struggle past Maroons

MANILA, Philippines - San Sebastian pounced on University of the Phils miscues in the third set then stamped its class in the fourth to fashion out a hard-earned 24-26, 25-22, 28-26, 25-12 victory in the Shakey’s V-League Season 6 at The Arena in San Juan City late Tuesday.

Fresh from their sudden-death victory over the St. Benilde Lady Blazers for a fifth straight NCAA women’s volley crown, the Lady Stags played erratic majority of the way and found a surprisingly tough UP side, needing to fight back from a first-set loss and a shaky third-set performance to pound out the victory in 1:46.

The SSC spikers, who had to scramble for a win to draw level, snatched the third set as UP hitter Southlyn Ramos committed three attacking errors, enabling the Recoletos-based squad to snatch the win.

Seizing the momentum, the Lady Stags dominated the fourth with Joy Benito, Margarita Pepito and Elaine Cruz combining to power the team to the victory at the start of their campaign in the league’s second conference sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

“We are still bogged by the same problem we had in the NCAA, our errors. We are still struggling so our initial goal is to make the quarters,” said SSC coach Roger Gorayeb, whose wards had to also survive a gritty St. Benilde side to keep their domination in the NCAA.

Benito and Pepito each finished with 21 hits, Cruz added 17 points while Melissa Mirasol and alumna guest player Jinni Mondejar tossed in nine and eight hits, respectively, for SSC, which lost the first conference crown of the league organized by Sports Vision and backed by Accel, Mikasa, Mighty Bond and OraCare, to UST last June.

“This is Jinni’s first game with us so she still has to adjust and jell with the rest of the players,” said Gorayeb, hard-pressed to whip up the team into a championship-caliber squad following the graduation of former stars Lou Ann Latigay, Rysabelle Devanadera and Charisse Ancheta.

Carmela Lopez topscored for UP with 14 hits, Cathy Barcelon added 12 points while Marie Quejas and Ramos had 10 hits apiece for the Lady Maroons, who tumbled to their fifth straight setback.