Lady Falcons stop Tigresses, gain F4

Games Sunday (The Arena, San Juan)

2 p.m. – Adamson vs FEU

4 p.m. – NU vs UST

MANILA, Philippines - Adamson fended off University of Santo Tomas’ fightback with a gutsy stand in the fourth set as it pulled off a 25-18, 25-23, 25-27, 25-22 victory to clinch the last semifinal berth in the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 First Conference at The Arena in San Juan last night.

Thai reinforcement Pacharee Sangmuang delivered three of Adamson’s last five hits, including a kill that touched off the arms of UST’s defenders and spun off the net before dropping to the floor, ending the two-hour and one-minute encounter and the playoff hopes of Ateneo and Davao.

The victory was the second straight for the Lady Falcons, who swept the Agilas last Tuesday, for a 2-1 card as they clinched the fourth and last Final Four slot in the season-opening conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.

UST also wound up with a 2-1 slate, thus yielding the No. 1 spot to Adamson via the winner-over-the-other rule. The Lady Falcons will thus face off with Group 2 No. 2 Far Eastern U with the Tigresses meeting the National U Bulldogs in the other semis duel, a best-of-three affair, starting Sunday.

The Lady Eagles and the Agilas were hoping for a UST win to force a playoff for the last berth in the league backed by Mikasa, Accel and Lion Tiger Mosquito Coil.

Down by two sets, UST struck back in the extended third set and fought back from 18-20 down in the fourth to force a tie at 20. But Sangmuang scored on a smash and the Lady Falcons scored on a lucky serve before the Thai ace rammed in another kill as Adamson took four of the next six to go 24-22.

Sangmuang finished with 27 hits while Pau Soriano added 14 points and Shiela Pineda and Mylene Paat chipped in 13 and 10 markers, respectively.

Rookie ace Ennajie Laure fired 21 hits, including one that made 21-24 in the fourth, while Pam Lastimosa knocked in UST’s last point and wound up with 18 points and Carmela Tunay finished with 13 markers.

Earlier, defending champion National U leaned on the towering presence of Jaja Santiago as it overpowered a hapless St. Benilde side, 25-11, 25-14, 25-17, to sweep its quarterfinals matches and formalize its semis entry.

The 6-3 Santiago, who missed several games in the elims to backstop the national team in the recent Asian Club Championship in Thailand, rammed in 10 kills and finished with 18 hits, including five blocks as she led the Lady Bulldogs domination of the Lady Blazers, who wound up with a 0-3 slate.

So impressive was Santiago that NU had the luxury of sitting out her elder sister Dindin, who struggled with a season low two hits, in the third and final set.

Myla Pablo and Aiko Urdas, meanwhile, backed up Jaja with 11 and 10 hits, respectively.