Lady Stingers deny Pirates No.1 berth

MANILA, Philippines - University of St. La Salle hacked out an upset victory over Lyceum, 25-22, 25-19, 25-23, yesterday to close out its Shakey’s V-League Season 7 campaign in style at the Filoil Flying V Arena at San Juan yesterday.

Guest player Michelle Laborte rammed in 16 hits, including 12 kills while Patty Orendain and Princess Pido chipped in 12 points and 11 points, respectivley, for the Bacolod-based squad which surprised the Lady Pirates with solid blocking and floor defense to pound out the victory.

“This is our last game and we have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I told them to just enjoy it because there is no more pressure on us. As a result we played loose and relaxed,” said USLS coach Roger Banzuela.

The Lady Stingers, already out of the semis race, finished their campaign with a 1-2 slate but denied the Pirates the outright No. 1 spot in Group I for the crossover semis of the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and presented by PLDT MyDSL.

Lyceum ended with a 2-1 slate to be matched by the winner in next week’s final quarters matches pitting San Sebastian and Adamson, toting identical 1-1 slates.

The organizing Sports Vision said the tie will be broken via the point ratio with the team to emerge No. 1 facing the No. 2 team and the No. 2 squad facing the No. 1 team in the other group in the crossover best-of-three semis.

UST and Ateneo, with identical 2-0 cards, also dispute the top seeding in Group II next week.

“It’s a feel good win because we can go home to Bacolod with our heads high as we finished with a victory. Hopefully we can accomplish more the next time we join and find a suitable setter to have a better chance,” said Banzuela.

Santrong finished with 14 points while Joy Cases tossed in 10 hits for the Lady Pirates, who last led at 19-18 in the third set before Laborte and Orendain combined to give USLS a 23-20 lead.

The Lady Pirates, however, took the next three points to draw level but Laborte came through with a hit and reserved Gianes Dolar banged away her own attack to clinch the victory.