INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines — Different tournament, similar result.

Payback remained elusive for St. Benilde on Friday as the San Sebastian Lady Stags continued their mastery over the Lady Blazers in a clinical 25-21, 25-19, 25-14 victory last night in the Shakey’s V-League Season 6 second conference at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Drawing a solid outing from sophomore Princess Cruz, the Lady Stags showed little mercy against the Lady Blazers, who bowed to the San Sebastian tossers in the best-of-three finals for the NCAA crown last Sunday.

Earlier, Far Eastern U notched its third victory in four games with a 25-20, 23-25, 25-21, 25-19 thumping of Ateneo-Oracare.

Summoning the form that made her one of the most popular players in the league, Rachel Daquis pumped in 22 points to shove the Lady Tamaraws to solo third, behind University of Santo Tomas and San Sebastian.

The 5-foot-10 Daquis fired 18 kills and delivered four service aces, while Shaira Gonzales finished with 21 and Cherry Vivas, thriving in her central attacking role, added 17.

Save for the second-set collapse, the Lady Tamaraws were in control as they finished off the Lady Eagles in an hour and 41 minutes.

Far Eastern coach Ernesto Pamiliar attributed the victory to adjustments on their floor defense in the third and fourth sets.

The Lady Tamaraws cut the angles on the Ateneo attackers, including guest player Charo Soriano, who was limited to 16 points. Fille Cainglet paced the Lady Eagles with 20.

It was the second straight loss for the Lady Eagles, who also dropped a 25-23, 27-25, 19-25, 25-20 decision to the Tigresses on Tuesday.

San Sebastian coach Roger Gorayeb feels the Lady Blazers have yet to recover from their setback in the NCAA.

“Their game has gone down after the finals in the NCAA,” said Gorayeb of the Lady Blazers, who fell to their second straight loss, in a tie with Lyceum.

“I think they are still reeling from their loss to us last Sunday.”