INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - University of Santo Tomas took care of business in the Shakey?s V-League Season 6 before setting out for another challenge.

The Tigresses fashioned out a 25-23, 27-25, 19-25, 25-20 victory over the Ateneo-Oracare Lady Eagles Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory and a quarterfinal berth in the second conference at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.

In their last game before leaving for the National University Games in Iloilo, the Tigresses were challenged at every turn before stamping their class in the fourth set to prevail in one hour and 41 minutes.

Rookie Maru Banaticla and Angeli Tabaquero pumped in 15 points each and league leading scorer Aiza Maizo added 14 for the Tigresses, who outscored the Lady Eagles on blocks, 10-6.

?At least, we already made the quarterfinals before we go to the Unigames,? said UST coach Cesael Delos Santos, whose next game will be against St. Benilde on Nov. 3.

?We were inconsistent, but it?s understandable because some of the players are focusing on their final exams this week.?

Earlier, Adamson bounced back with an impressive 25-23, 26-24, 25-16 triumph over debuting St. Benilde.

The Lady Falcons improved to 3-2, behind skipper Angela Benting and Pau Soriano, who combined for 30 markers.

A losing finalist in the NCAA two days ago, the Lady Blazers seemed poised to push the Lady Falcons all the way. But they faded after taking an 8-1 lead in the second set.

The Lady Falcons looked deadly with their serve, scoring nine points off service aces, including three courtesy of Ma. Lourdes Patilano.

?We are stilly trying to get our rhythm,? said Adamson coach Dulce Pante, whose team, like the Tigresses, are also joining the Unigames which start Saturday. ?Hopefully, when we return next month, we will be a lot better.?

The Lady Eagles came within 14-16 in the fourth set, before back-to-back hits by Ortiz and an off-speed spike by Banaticla allowed the Tigresses to pull away.

Cara Acevedo came through with 17 points and Fille Cainglet contributed 14 for the Lady Eagles, who fell to 1-1.