Lady Bulldogs fight off Tigresses in key 2nd set.
Defending champion National University fought back a close second set before it downed University of Santo Tomas, 25-21, 29-27, 25-13, yesterday at the start of the quarterfinals in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Collegiate Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The Lady Bulldogs saw their commanding 14-4 second-set lead diminish when the Tigresses fought back for 24-all, before back-to-back kills from Aiko Urdas and skipper Jaja Santiago sealed the set win.
It became the turning point for NU as it dominated the third frame with ease courtesy of combination attacks to rattle UST’s floor defense.
Santiago led the Lady Bulldogs with 15 points composed of 11 kills and four blocks, while Jorelle Singh and Urdas added 14 and 11 points, respectively.
“Hinahanap pa rin namin yung tamang chemistry namin sa bawat laro. Hindi naman kami humihinto doon,” said NU Coach Edjet Mabbayad.
Eya Laure, meanwhile, was the lone double-digit scorer for UST with 15 points.
The standings has yet to be finalized as Ateneo and Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) are still battling for the remaining quarters berth at presstime.
Only six teams will be competing in the quarters, whose win-loss records will be carried over in the said phase.
The other quarterfinalists were Far Eastern University, University of the Philippines, and San Sebastian College.
Meanwhile, Greg Dolor and Paul Bugaoan combined for 34 hits as Far Eastern U halted Perpetual Help’s three-game run with a 25-23, 25-15, 20-25, 25-20 victory to boost its semifinal drive in Group A of the Spikers’ Turf Season 2 Collegiate Conference.
The win was FEU’s third straight since dropping a straight-set setback to National U last Aug. 1, forcing a three-way tie for the lead with its victim and tormentor heading to the crucial stage of the single round elims among six teams combined 28-point output with Silang also adding five markers, including two service aces.
Earlier, University of the Philippines survived San Beda’s first set scare then went on to claim a 25-23, 25-19, 25-16 victory to bolster its semis bid in Group B.