V-League: La Salle Dasmarinas and Adamson end elimination round with key wins

(Updated 7:06pm)  The La Salle Dasmarinas Lady Patriots and the Adamson Lady Falcons triumphed on the final day of the elimination round of the tenth season of the Shakey’s V-League, Sunday at the Fil Oil Flying V Arena in San Juan. The first match of the day saw the balanced scoring attack of the Lady Patriots, going up against one of the most explosive scorers in the league, guest player of the Lady Stags Jeng Bualee, with the former emerging victorious, 25-20, 25-17, 29-27. With both teams eyeing their second win of the season, the Lady Stags and Lady Patriots were relentless on the floor with the aggressive action they showcased. Bualee and Su Roces as expected were on cue with their attacks. Their cross-court and down-the-line shots would land too fast and too deep before the La Salle Dasmarinas defense could react.   The Lady Patriots would respond with a well-distributed offense, care of guest player Jennifer Manzano and Cherry Rose Nunag. Mariel Desengano also stepped-up for La Salle Dasmarinas as her well-placed shots and her defense led the Lady Patriots to a 20-15 advantage. Despite the lead, Jolina Labiano, Roces and Bualee of the Lady Stags continued to attack for San Sebastian. Their offense however would not be enough to give them the set, as they notched too many unforced errors to prevent their comeback hopes, as they dropped the set at 20-25. San Sebastian continued to struggle in the second set, as their unforced errors did not stop. Their carelessness with scoring opportunities gave way to a quick 12-7 lead for the Lady Patriots. Despite the rocket-like attacks of Bualee, Mariel Desengano continued her fearless mentality on defense, as her blocking lifted the Lady Patriots and fed their momentum. Gieselle Bembo, Monique Tiangco and Lari Yongco were in perfect rhythm throughout the set, as they delivered a 25-17 beating against the frustrated Lady Stags.   With the score against their favor, the Lady Stags fought back despite their performance, as they managed to pick up a slim one-point lead entering the first technical timeout of the third set at 8-7. Gretchel Sartones and Czarina Berbano played well for the Lady Stags, as they supported Bualee in the scoring department. Even if Bualee was positioned at the back row, she still served as a scoring threat for her team, as San Sebastian carried a 23-20 lead late in the set. Nunag and Tiangco however, fought back by scoring three straight points to tie the set at 23-all. The Lady Stags would reach set point at 25-24, before Monique Tiangco and Lari Yongco delivered under pressure, as their power tips and ball control gave the Lady Patriots their first match point at 26-25. Berbano would take back the lead for the Lady Stags at 27-26, but that would serve as the end of scoring for San Sebastian. The match would end with a thrilling rally that got the arena on their feet, as the Lady Patriots escaped notched the set and the game at 29-27. It was one of Mariel Desengano’s best games of the conference for the Lady Patriots, as she scored 10 points, while leading the team in 16 excellent sets. Lari Yongco led her team in scoring with 14. Jeng Bualee’s usual scoring output was once again not enough for San Sebastian, despite 22 markers in this game, as she was the only Lady Stag who reached double figures. Bualee’s scoring performance was matched by how much points the Lady Stags gave away, care of their unforced errors, 22. The second match of the day and the last of the elimination round was a battle for positioning in the quarterfinals, as the Adamson Lady Falcons emerged triumphant, 25-11, 25-19, 20-25, 25-16, versus the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta Lady Altas. The Lady Falcons were in a good groove in the first set, as they piled up a quick 5-1 start. Pau Soriano, Shiela Pineda and Faye Guevara played well enough to extend their lead to 16-8 by the second technical timeout. UPHSD struggled against Adamson’s defense as the Lady Falcons were able to take a whopping 23-9 lead, more than double the Lady Altas’ score. Adamson then finished the set by sending a message to UPHSD with a 25-11 domination.   The second set was a big improvement for the Lady Altas as Honey Royse Tubino attacked with less hesitation, with Adamson holding only a two-point lead by the first technical timeout at 8-6. Sandra Delos Santos kept the Lady Altas close at 11-12, but Pineda’s service game and cleanly hit spikes gave the Lady Falcons control of the set at 16-12. With key players such as Marleen Cortel playing well, it was another easy set at 25-19. Being down two sets to none, the Lady Altas fought back in the third set with Norie Jane Diaz’s service game and quick attacks leading UPHSD to an 8-4 lead by the first technical timeout. Sandra Delos Santos would let loose a barrage of service aces with three straight to give the Lady Altas an 11-4 advantage. The Lady Falcons however would fight back, behind Mylene Paat’s blocking and Angela Benting’s attacks, as they inched closer at 16-13. The Lady Falcons ended up within one point, at 21-20, before Tubing responded with a set of running attacks. UPHSD however finished the set the way they started it, a series of service aces, this time care of guest player Joy Cases. That allowed the Lady Altas to walk away with a 25-20 set victory. The Lady Falcons were all business in the fourth set, unwilling to make a fifth necessary, kicking things off with a 6-2 start. Benting, Pineda and Soriano would lead them back to the rhythm they brandished, in the first two sets as they grabbed a 16-8 lead by the second technical timeout. They would extend their lead as much as 11 at 21-10, before finishing the match at 25-16. Four Lady Falcons scored in double figures in the match with Paat at 13, Soriano and Benting at 15 and Pineda at 18. Sandra Delos Santos notched a game-high in aces with four. At the end of the elimination round, Ateneo tops Group A with a perfect record, followed by UST at 3-1, La Salle Dasmarinas at 2-2, and San Sebastian at 1-3. Group B is bannered by the 4-0 card of NU, followed Adamson (3-1), Arellano (2-2), and Perpetual Help (1-3). - CLP/AMD, GMA News Game 1 San Sebastian – Bualee 22, Roces 9, Berbano 5, Soltones 4, Labiano 4, Crisostomo 2, Arabe 1, Mallare 1 La Salle Dasmarinas – Yongco 14, Desengano 10, Tiangco 10, Nunag 8, Manzano 7, Bembo 6, Lara 2   Game 2 Perpetual – Delos Santos 17, Tubino 11, Cases 10, Diaz 6, Argarin 2 (24 excellent sets), Suyat 1 Adamson – Pineda 18, Soriano 15, Benting 15, Paat 13, Guevara 3, Cortel 2