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Lady Altas gain V-League quarters; Lady Falcons win in five sets
Perpetual Help survived Southwestern University’s gritty stand in the last two sets as it carved out a 25-14, 25-23, 25-22 victory to clinch the fifth quarterfinal berth in the ninth Shakey’s V-League Presented by SMART at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.
Sandra delos Santos and Thai import Pornpimol Kunbang combined for 30 hits while Honey Tubino and April Sartin tossed in nine points apiece for the Lady Altas, who improved to 2-1 and joined Group A mates Ateneo (4-0) and FEU (2-1) and Group B leaders San Sebastian (3-0) and UST (3-0) in the Last 8.
The Lady Cobras kept the game close in the last two sets but just couldn’t shake off the Altas, bowing out of the race in the season-opening conference sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and backed by Mikasa and Accel with a 0-4 card.
“The field is strong (in the quarters) but we’ll be there fighting even without my top players,” said Perpetual coach Mike Rafael in Filipino.
Adamson University squandered a two-set advantage but regained its composure in the decider to hack out a 25-20, 25-22, 24-26, 25-23, 15-9 victory over University of St. La Salle in the second game.
It was the Lady Falcons’ first win after back-to-back losses to stay in the hunt for a quarters seat while dealing the Lady Stingers their third loss in four games.
Adamson’s guest player Nerissa Bautista had 25 kills, including the cross court spike to end the two-hour, five-minute encounter, while Paulina Soriano had 24 kills for a game-high 28 points.
“We relaxed in the third and fourth sets but we were able to regroup in the fifth,” said assistant coach Sherwin Meneses, who took over from head coach Dulce Pante, who is on vacation.
Matches will now be aired on AKTV-13 beginning Thursday on a delayed basis from 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Other telecast dates are Monday and Tuesday.
AKTV will also air the previous games, including the third matches in a number of triplebills, on cable channel Hyper, according to the organizing Sports Vision.
Sandra Delos Santos had 13 kills and two blocks for 16 hits while Thai import Kunbang Pornpimol had 11 kills for 14 points for the Lady Altas.
Marlyn Llagoso came through with three consecutive service aces as SWU rallied from an 11-18 deficit in the second set. But Perpetual hung tough and escaped with a 25-23 win.
Shyrra Cabriana converted 16 excellent sets out of 98 attempts, including three set fakes. “That’s why I told her that she must read SWU’s defense,” said Rafael of his new setter, who had seven points.
Danika Gendrauli unloaded 11 kills and finished with 13 points while Princess Pido and Marlyn Llagoso added eight hits each and Genie Sabas and Nica Guliman combined for eight points for SWU.
Kunbang dished out a superb all-around game, firing 11 attacks while coming up with 11 digs for the Altas, who remain wary of their chances in the quarters.
