Lyceum turned to veteran Johna Dolorito in the fourth set to spoil University of Perpetual Help System Dalta’s attempt to force a decider for a 25-18, 25-15, 18-25, 25-22, victory in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The wing spiker scored 10 of her 16 points in the fourth frame including four in the also-ran Lady Pirates’ closing 6-2 run to wrap their Pool B campaign on a high note.
Lyceum finished with an even 2-2 win-loss record in the tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, GCash, Chery Tiggo, F2 Logistics, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, R and B Milk Tea and Summit Water.
The Lady Altas threatened to extend the game to a decider after scoring three straight points capped by a Cyrille Almeniana kill block for a 20-19 lead.
Dolorito took over as she scored three straight points before Joan Doguna added a hit to put the Lady Pirates in front, 23-21. Almeniana smashed a crosscourt kill to stop Perpetual’s bleeding but Dolorito quickly answered with a hit before Janeth Tulang smashed an off-the-block hammer to end the match.
Dolorito admitted that Lyceum got too complacent after dominating the first two sets.
“Nag-struggle kami sa consistency namin especially sa set three medyo nag-fluctuate rin ‘yung service receive namin, yung defense namin hindi nasusunod pero yun naman ang inaayos namin sa training,” said Dolorito, who had 14 kills and two aces.
Doguna submitted 11 points while Tulang got all her 10 markers off attacks.
Perpetual remained winless in three starts despite the 19-point effort of Almeniana, who played through pain after spraining her right ankle late in the fourth set.
Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila University advanced into the playoffs after breezing past Emilio Aguinaldo College, 25-12, 25-21, 25-12, in Pool A.
Jennifer Delo Santos scored 10 points while Jihan Chuatico and Alexia Montoro added seven each as the Blue Eagles won their second straight game for a 3-1 win-loss finish to join pool leader defending champion National University into the next phase.
