V-League: Lady Eagles clinch first semis spot

Defending champions Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles fumbled in the third set but put up a gritty stand in the fourth to topple the hard-fighting Adamson University Lady Falcons, 25-22, 25-14, 20-25, 25-22, to clinch the first semifinal berth in the Shakey’s V-League Season 9 first conference at The Arena in San Juan City, Tuesday.   Thai ace Lithawat Kesinee and local top hitter Alyssa Valdez posted 19 points apiece while three other Lady Eagles finished with double-digit performances to power ADMU to a 5-0 mark in the standings and a spot in the Final Four of the tournament.   Angeline Gervacio added 13 points while Fille Cainglet and Gretchen Ho chipped in 10 points apiece for Ateneo, which fashioned the victory in 97 minutes.   Former league MVP and Adamson U guest player Nene Bautista led her side with 18 points, highlighted with 15 kills, while Shiela Pineda tossed in 13 points with two service aces. Pau Soriano added scored 12 points and Faye Guevara added 11 points for the Lady Falcons, who kept it close in the final set, but fell short in the end.   It was the fourth setback for the Lady Falcons in five games, putting them in danger of missing the semifinals.   Earlier, University of St. La Salle-Bacolod limited National University to just two hits in the decider to hack out a come-from-behind 25-12, 21-25, 20-25, 25-23, 15-2 victory which kept their slim semifinal hopes alive.   Former youth standout Patty Orendain scored nine hits in the fifth set, including three service aces, while Royce Quijano added three blocks for the Lady Stingers, who roared out a solid start but faltered in the next two sets before scrambling for a win in the fourth and dominating the decider.   It was USLS' first win in five games in the carryover quarterfinal phase and the Lady Stingers must sweep their last two games and hope that either Perpetual Help or San Sebastian won’t win more than three to force a playoff for the last spot.   Orendain top-scored for the Lady Stingers with 30 points, including 25 kills and two blocks.   Aleona Denise Santiago, NU’s hard-hitting reinforcement, shot 19 kills and had four services aces to lead the team with 25 points, while skipper Maricar Nepomuceno and Myla Pablo added 16 and 15 markers, respectively. - AMD, GMA News