Lady Falcons reach finals

MANILA, Philippines - Adamson defused University of St. La Salle-Bacolod’s repeated rallies in the fourth set to carve out a 26-24, 22-25, 25-17, 25-17 victory yesterday and sweep its way to a second straight finals appearance in the Shakey’s V-League at The Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Falcons took the last four points in the fourth frame marked by long rallies as they finally silenced the Bacolod-based squad, which threatened last at 17-21 after falling behind early by as many as 1-8.

Angela Benting soared high to deliver the clincher over two defenders, ending the one-hour, 38-minute victory and keeping the Falcons’ bid for a back-to-back championship alive.

“We expected to be back in the finals and we really wanted to end the series today (yesterday),” said Adamson coach Dulce Pante.

The Falcons will face the winner of the Ateneo-National University duel in another best-of-three playoff for the first conference crown of the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and backed by Accel and Mikasa.

The league, organized by Sports Vision, earlier reversed Ateneo’s 25-27, 25-14, 25-10, 25-19 win in Game One after it found out the Eagles fielded in a libero in reserve Bea Tan as regular player.

Under the FIVB regulations, libero players registered cannot revert back as a regular player.

But the Lady Eagles forced a sudden death for the other finals berth by beating the Bulldogs, 25-14, 25-18, 25-20, later in the day.

Thai reinforcement Kesinee Lithawat made 20 hits, including 18 kills, while Fille Cainglet stepped up to fire 11 attacks for a 12-point output as the Eagles dominated the 65-minute romp with their power game.

The Loyola-based squad, chasing its first crown, combined for 43 kills against NU’s 29 although the Lady Bulldogs had more blocks, 7-3.

Denise Santiago came up with four blocks and finished with 13 hits while Monique Tiangco added 10 points for the Bulldogs.

The decider will be played tomorrow.

Guest player Nerissa Bautista fired 21 points while Pau Soriano and Angela Benting added 19 and 18 hits, respectively, for the Lady Falcons, who also drew a seven-hit, four-block production from Michelle Laborte.

Jovelyn Gonzaga scored 17 hits, including blocks, while Patty Orendain, Sheryl Denila and Kay Aplasca combined for 36 points for USLS, who also got 10 hits from Maizo.

The left-handed Maizo, tapped by USLS in the Final Four, took charge in the fourth, scoring on vicious spikes and on a drop shot with her right hand as the Stingers pulled to within 10-12.

But the Falcons, who took the best-of-three series opener, 25-19, 25-23, 25-22, regrouped and strung up three straight points then took four of the next six points to scuttle Lady Stingers’ bid to extend the match.