Tigresses complete Shakey’s V-L semis cast
Maika Ortiz took over in the deciding set as University of Santo Tomas survived tenacious Perpetual Help, 21-25, 25-18, 25-22, 19-25, 15-11, to clinch the last semifinal berth in the Shakey’s V-League yesterday at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Ortiz racked up 23 points, seven coming in the fifth set, and Aiza Maizo delivered the game-winning kill to cap a 12-point performance in the five-set thriller.
“We had a slow start, I think fatigue set in,” said UST coach Odjie Mamon after the Tigresses completed a 3-0 quarterfinal sweep of Group II.
But the Tigresses face tougher competition in defending champion Ateneo at the start of the best-of-three semifinal series at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at Philsports Arena.
National University, which also swept Group I, tackles Adamson in the other Final Four clash at 4 p.m.
Earlier, Nene Bautista drilled 25 points as Arellano wrapped up its campaign with a 25-22, 25-17, 26-28, 25-22 triumph over La Salle-Dasmariñas in a battle of eliminated teams.
Meanwhile, to accommodate the expected big number of fans, the organizing Sports Vision and sponsoring Shakey’s will hold the semifinal round and the championship of the Shakey’s V-League Season 10 First Conference at bigger venues at Philsports Arena in Pasig and Mall of Asia Arena at SM MOA in Pasay.
The first semifinal game will be held at Philsports while MOA Arena will host the next playdate on May 16. If necessary, Game 3 will be at Philsports on May 19.
The first two games of the finals will be played at the MOA Arena on May 23 and May 26 with the sudden death, if necessary, set at Philsports on June 2. With a report from Randolph Leongson
