Lady Falcons, Stags set title clash, sweep rivals

MANILA, Philippines - Adamson and San Sebastian-Excelroof finished off their respective rivals with a pair of hard-earned victories yesterday, arranging a showdown for title of two teams that dominated the Shakey’s V-League Season 7 second conference at The Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Stags fought back from a set down then steeled themselves up in the fifth set to turn back the Lady Tams, 20-25, 25-22, 25-20, 19-25, 15-11, to advance to the finals for the second straight time in the season.

Earlier, the Lady Falcons stayed on track of their bid for a second championship as they repeated over Lyceum, 25-19, 25-17, 25-12.

Game One of the best-of-three title series is set at 4 p.m. on Thursday.

Setter Jennelyn Belen suited up after missing the opener of the best-of-three series with an abdominal pain and put SSC’s offense in full throttle especially in the pressure-packed fifth set.

Suzanne Roces put on a superb offensive game of 23 hits, including 21 kills, as she combined with Thai import Jeng Bualee, who topscored with 25 attacks, and Joy Benito, who backed them up with 14 points.

It was a sorry loss for FEU, which lost the opener of the best-of-three series in four sets but surprised SSC with a win in the first set and a big comeback in the fourth to send the match into a deciding fifth set.

Top hitter Rachel Anne Daquis also made a return stint from an ankle injury and turned in 17 points while Michelle Carolino unloaded 24 hits and Cherry Vivas added 16. But the Lady Tams wavered in the face of the Lady Stags’ charge in the last set.

Dragged into a five-set thriller in the opener of their best-of-three semifinal duel last Thursday, the Lady Falcons stamped their class this time, completing the 64-minute sweep and sustaining their unbeaten run since the quarters.

Michelle Laborte fired 15 hits, including six blocks, while Angela Benting and Pau Soriano added 13 and 11 points, respectively, as the Lady Falcons dominated the Pirates from start to finish to record their third championship appearance in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

Top hitter Nerissa Bautista slowed down with eight hits but provided the leadership while libero Angela Vasquez shone in the non-scoring skills with 11 digs and six receptions to emerge the game’s best player.