Ateneo, NU trounce foes, move closer to V-League Finals

MANILA, Philippines -- Bea de Leon went on a block party as Ateneo overpowered Santo Tomas, 27-25, 25-16, 25-17, Saturday to move a step closer to advancing to the finals of the Shakeys V-League Season 12-Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.

De Leon led all hitters with 16 but made her biggest impact came at the net where she posted her season best eight blocks, most of which came in the final two sets when the Lady Eagles tore the Tigresses apart.

"Good blocking, defense," said Ateneo coach Tai Bundit.

The reigning UAAP champion seeks to wrap it up and sweep UST as the two clash in Game Two set at 3 p.m. today.

A deciding Game Three, if necessary, is on Wednesday.

Ateneo captain Alyssa Valdez unloaded 15 hits including 13 on kills while Amy Ahomiro and Jhoanna Maraguinot pumped in 10 and eight, respectively.

It was de Leon, however, who shone the brightest as she not only unloaded eight kills herself, she also reduced UST's phalanx of spikers to ashes.

The usually high-scoring EJ Laure was held to just nine while veterans Pam Lastimosa and Carmela Tunay combined just four in one of their most forgettable performance in UST uniform.

The Tigresses though showed some fight in the opening set when they fought the Lady Eagles tooth and nail before losing steam in  the end that allowed the latter to snatch the set.

UST roared to a fast 3-1 start in the second set but de Leon took matters into her own hands in willing Ateneo to dominate the final two sets.

National U likewise moved on the cusp of making it to the finals after it downed Far Eastern U, 25-15, 25-22, 25-27, 25-23.

Jaja Santiago unleashed 19 hits while Myla Pablo and Jorelle Singh fired 18 and 11, respectively, to make up for the absence of Dindin Santiago-Manabat, who will miss the entire semis series because she's with Petron Blaze competing in a tournament in Vietnam.

Seasoned setter Rubie de Leon was exceptional on his second game since joining the Lady Bulldogs as a guest player, dishing out 25 exceptional sets while chipping in six hits.

"I told the team we needed to fill the Dindin vacuum by committee," said NU coach Roger Gorayeb.