Lady Falcons blast Pirates, make semis

MANILA, Philippines - Adamson kept its unbeaten run in the quarters as it outclassed Lyceum, 25-15, 25-19, 25-17, to roll into the semifinal round of the Shakey’s V-League Season 7 second conference at The Arena in San Juan late Sunday.

Nerissa Bautista outhit Mary Jean Balse in a duel of former MVPs with the former making 12 attacks and finishing with 15 hits and the latter struggling with just seven kills before winding up with 11 points.

The victory was Adamson’s third straight in the single round quarters phase, sparked by a pulsating five-set decision over San Sebastian-Excelroof, as the Lady Falcons tied the Stags in the lead at 8-2 to clinch the second semis berth in the season-ending conference sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

SSC booked the first Final Four seat with a 25-22, 25-9, 25-17 victory over Far Eastern U, also last Sunday with Ateneo all set to claim the third semis slot with a 6-3 slate following a four-set win over National U.

Angela Benting fired 16 points while Michelle Laborte had 10, Pau Soriano added nine and Ma. Lourdes Patilano and Gail Martin combined for 13 points for the San Marcelino-based tossers, chasing their second crown in the league organized by Sports Vision and backed by Accel, Mikasa and Excelroof.

Lyceum, which surprised Ateneo in five sets last Thursday, slid to 5-4, still in fourth but just a shade ahead of fifth-running FEU, which had a 4-5.

After ramming in a personal-best 37-hit output against Ateneo, Balse was limited to 11 points, slowing down the Lady Pirates’ offense. Dahlia Cruz topscored for the team with 13 hits but the next three players - Jamie Peña, Joy Cases and Marie Casanova - could only combine for 15 points.

Lyceum outblocked the league’s leader in blocks, 10-8, but the Lady Pirates struggled in their offense, making just 28 kills as against their rivals 46-spike effort.

Meanwhile, the SSC-FEU match will be shown on NBN-4 starting at 2 p.m. today while the Adamson-Lyceum game will be telecast tomorrow.