V-League: AdU takes 3rd place; Balse wins MVP plum

MANILA, Philippines - Adamson played with so much poise in three gut-wrenching sets for a 27-25, 25-23, 25-23 victory over Far Eastern U, clinching third place honors in the sixth Shakey’s V-League presented by Cherifer before a packed Sunday crowd at The Arena in San Juan. Nerissa Bautista and Paulina Soriano fired 14 hits apiece while Jill Gustilo added 10 as the Lady Falcons survived an extended first-set encounter, 15 deadlocks in the second frame and another cliffhanger in the third to complete the hard-earned sweep of the Lady Tams in their own best-of-three series. The San Marcelino-based squad thus settled for the bronze medal in the conference it ruled last year while the Lady Tams, led by Mayette Carolino’s 18 and Maica Morada’s 10 points, posted their best-ever finish in the league. Meanwhile, UST ace Mary Jean Balse became the league’s first two-time MVP when she bagged the coveted individual crown during the rites honoring the conference’s top performers. Balse, who also copped the MVP Plum in 2004 while powering UST to three titles, edged fancied San Sebastian guest import Jaroensri Bualee for top honors. Bualee was named the league’s best scorer while Laurence Ann Latigay of SSC and UST’s Aiza Maiza took the best attacker and best blocker titles, respectively. Other individual awardees were Morada (best server), Adamson’s libero Lizlee Ann Gata (best digger), Rhea Dimaculangan of UST (best setter), and San Sebastian’s Marge Pepito (best receiver) and Shaira Gonzalez of FEU (most improved player). – Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV