Lady Eagles claw Tigresses, near V-League finals

Games today

12:45 p.m. – NU vs FEU

3 p.m. – Ateneo vs UST

MANILA, Philippines - Bea de Leon went on a block party as Ateneo overpowered Santo Tomas, 27-25, 25-16, 25-17, yesterday 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 yesterday.

De Leon led all hitters with 16 but made her impact at the net where she posted her season best eight blocks, most of them in the final two sets where the Lady Eagles ripped the Tigresses apart at the start of their best-of-three semifinal series in the tournament presented by PLDT Home Ultera.

“Good blocking, defense,” said Ateneo coach Tai Bundit.

The reigning UAAP champions seek to wrap it up with another win in Game Two at 3 p.m. today.

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

National U zeroed in on the other finals berth as it downed Far Eastern U, 25-15, 25-22, 25-27, 25-23, in their side of the Final Four.

Skipper Jorelle Singh stepped up in the absence of guest player Dindin Santiago-Manabat, scoring 11 hits she capped with three aces while Jaja Santiago and Myla played true to form and combined for 37 hits for the Lady Bulldogs, who will try to finish off the Lady Tams in Game Two today.

The match, set at 12:45 p.m., will be aired live on GMA News TV Channel 11, according to the organizing Sports Vision.

Ateneo and UST clash at 3 p.m. Both matches can also be viewed live via streaming on www.v-league.ph.

The Lady Tams, behind guest player Jovelyn Gonzaga, Bernadeth Pons and Toni Rose Basas, outsteadied the Lady Bulldogs in the extended third set to stay in the match but lost steam in another down-to-the-wire finish in the fourth.

Pons wound up with 16 markers while Basas and Gonzaga added 12 and 11 hits, respectively, for the Lady Tams, who seek to bounce back strong today and send the series to a deciding match on Wednesday.

Seasoned setter Rubie de Leon was exceptional in her second game since re-joining the Lady Bulldogs as 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.

Ateneo captain Alyssa Valdez unloaded 15 hits, including 13 attack points, while Amy Ahomiro and Jhoanna Maraguinot punched in 10 and eight markers, respectively, to underscore another balanced Ateneo attack.

But it was de Leon who stepped up big as she did not only unleash eight kills but also foiled a number of UST attacks.

The usually high-scoring EJ Laure was limited to just nine while veterans Pam Lastimosa struggled for four hits and Carmela Tunay was held scoreless in one of their most forgettable performances.