Lady Tamaraws, Tigresses down foes

MANILA, Philippines - Far Eastern U pounced on a listless St. Benilde side and cruised to a trouble-free 25-21, 25-6, 25-17 victory yesterday, catching idle National U at second in the quarterfinal round of the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Tams hardly worked out a sweat in disposing of the Lady Blazers, particularly in the second frame where they practically feasted on their rivals’ poor reception and coordination to record the second lowest set output in the mid-season tournament of the league presented by PLDT Home Ultera and sponsored by Shakey’s.

Arellano U held University of Batangas to four points in the first set last Aug. 1.

In fact, FEU coach Shaq delos Santos used the match to try out new combinations he could employ in tougher games ahead with all 11 players, outside of liberos Kyla Atienza and Ria Duremdez, scoring at least a hit.

University of Santo Tomas joined NU and FEU at second later in the day as it subdued Arellano U, 25-21, 25-22, 19-25, 24-26, 15-12, to firm up its semifinal drive.

Just when the Tigresses thought they had the Lady Chiefs in check with a sweep of the first two sets, the reigning NCAA champions fiercely fought back and grabbed the next two to force a decider.

But the España-based squad surprised their rivals with a strong start, racking up six of the first seven points then thwarting the Lady Chiefs’ series of fightbacks with clutch hits from Ennajie Laure, Pam Lastimosa, Chiodia Cortez and Marivic Meneses.

Arellano actually forced a tie at 12 but Lastimosa and Laure combined to deliver the last three pointsand frustrate the Lady Chiefs.

Guest player Carmina Aganonfired 23 hits and Christine Joy Rosario added 15 points for Arellano, which dropped to fifth with a 2-2 card.

Earlier, the Lady Tams scored 38 spikes, more than doubling St. Benilde’s paltry 15-attack effort with Bernadeth Pons leading the attack with 14 hits, Honey Royce Tubibo adding nine markers and fellow guest player and ace spiker Jovelyn Gonzaga chipping in eight points.

Pons said they came into the match determined to rebound from their straight-set but close defeat to NU, 23-25, 24-26, 19-25, at the close of their elims assignment last week in the event backed by Mikasa and Accel.