UST routs SSC, clinches no.2 spot behind Ateneo in V-League

MANILA, Philippines -- University of Santo Tomas routed San Sebastian, 25-22, 25-15, 25-17, Sunday to finish in a flourish in the group stages of the Shakey's V-League Season 12-Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.

Pam Lastimosa and EJ Laure took care of the offense as the two fired 14 and 12 hits including 13 and nine on kills while Chloida Cortez did the rest by scattering 10 including  three on kills and one service ace as the Tigresses finished Group B at No. 2 with a 4-1 (win-loss) record.

The Alyssa Valdez-led Ateneo Eagles, the reigning UAAP champions, swept the group with five triumphs.

"Our initial goal is to make it to the quarters and we're happy to make it their. Now we go for the semis," said UST coach Kung Fu Reyes.

UST did it in the absence of Carmela Tunay, one of the pillars of the team but wasn't able to play due to a fractured nose she sustained in a win over Technological Institute of the Philippines last week.

"She's not yet cleared to play," said Reyes of Tunay.

Gretchel Soltones, a member of the national team that suited up for the Asian Under-23 Championship in Pasig last May and the Southeast Asian Games in Singapore last June, was converted back to her spiker position after playing libero early in the conference due to a dislocated shoulder.

But Soltones couldn't score a point in limited minutes in the opening set that hastened the Lady Stags' downfall.

Jolina Labiano carried the fight for the Roger Gorayeb-mentored Lady Stags by unloading 11, all on attacks.

Soltones' absence was too much though as San Sebastian couldn't weather the storm whipped up by the solid-hitting troika of Lastimosa, Laure and Cortez and fell to its fourth defeat against a win.

Despite the loss, San Sebastian could still hope to cacth the last quarterfinals bus if La Salle-Dasmarinas loses to St. Benilde in its duel at press time and it beat La Salle-Dasmarinas and Technological Institute of the Philippines via quotient.