Tigresses sweep Lady Stags, elims

MANILA, Philippines - University of Santo Tomas connected with half of their hits to sweep San Sebastian College, 25-12, 25-10, 25-21 and sweep Group B at the close of the elims in the ninth Shakey’s V-League Presented by Smart at The Arena in San Juan late Thursday.

Former MVP Mary Jean Balse scored 14 points while Judy Caballejo had 12 kills and Thai import Kaensing Utaiwan added 12 markers for UST, which made 40 of their 81 spike attempts.

“We’re doing well because we have solid rotation and we get the most of our options,” said UST coach Odjie Mamon, whose wards also made 10 service aces.

UST, the former six-time champion making its return to the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza after a two-year hiatus, thus swept the single round elims and matched Ateneo’s feat in Group A of the two-division event backed by Mikasa and Accel.

The Tigresses’ net and floor defense also limited the Lady Stags to 25-out-of-101 hits with Balse coming through with four blocks and Utaiwan rejecting two hits. The Espana-based squad likewise held SSC’s power-hitting import Jang Bualee to 14 points.

“Actually, our strength is on reception,” said Mamon, who also drew a solid game from Rhea Dimaculangan, who orchestrated UST’s offense with 22 excellent sets.

Balse made three consecutive service aces to cap a 20-8 run in the second set where the Tigresses limited the Lady Stags to just 10 points.

The Recoletos-based team kept the game close in the third as Bualee tried to impose her strength only to be neutralized by UST tough net defense for the victory.