Jaja Tulang stepped up big and propelled Lyceum of the Philippines University to a 25-17, 24-26, 25-20, 25-19 victory over Arellano and straight to the next NCAA Season 99 women’s volleyball stepladder semifinal game at the Filoil EcoOil Arena on Saturday, May 11.
Tulang was electric for the third-seed Lady Pirates, firing a game-high 23 points while also presiding over the defense with five blocks, 11 digs and eight receptions to live to fight another day.
LPU clashes with No. 2 Letran next in another do-or-die showdown Wednesday at the same venue.
The winner of that duel will then claim the last finals berth and will battle a three-peat-seeking College of St. Benilde, which swept the elimination round in nine outings, in a best-of-three series there starting Sunday.
“Sabi ng coaches hingi lang ako ng hingi ng bola,” said Tulang.
Johna Dolorito chipped in 17.
Joan Doguna, LPU’s top gun, attracted most of the defense and wound up with only seven hits.
Good thing Tulang was there to save the day.
LPU also snapped out of a three-game losing slide late in the elims.
“Actually, from the start of this game, losing streak na tatlo hindi na namin kinonsider, reset from 0-0 na talaga kami,” said LPU coach Cromwel Garcia.
There was some anxious moment though for LPU after blowing four-point leads in the second set, the last 14-10, that allowed AU, the pre-pandemic titlist, to steal the set.
It turned out the Lady Chiefs’ last stand as the Lady Pirates just utterly pillaged the former with their rock-solid net and floor defense.
