INQUIRER Sports

THE STATEMENT CAME as a surprise especially coming from a coach who seems to have an insatiable thirst for winning.

“I felt like we already won the championship,” said San Sebastian coach Roger Gorayeb after his battle-weary Lady Stags overpowered St. Benilde, 25-23, 24-26, 25-21, 25-16, Tuesday to clinch a spot in the semifinals of the Shakey’s V League Season 6 second conference.

“For a team weakened by the graduation of players, this is already a huge achievement,” the multi-titled coach said.

The Lady Stags closed out the quarterfinals with an 8-4 record for solo second, behind the 9-1 of league-leading University of Santo Tomas, which was playing Far Eastern U as of press deadline.

Later, Adamson took a huge step towards the last semifinal berth with a come-from-behind 20-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-21 win over Ateneo at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The triumph allowed the Lady Falcons to tie their victims at fourth with a 6-5 record.

But Adamson will be fancied to clinch a semifinal berth since it will have a lighter assignment compared to Ateneo on Friday.

The Lady Eagles will meet UST for its last game, while the Lady Falcons will tackle also-ran St. Benilde.

Joy Benito pumped in a career-high 26 points—25 off attacks—for the Lady Stags, who will appear in their ninth semifinal since joining the league five years ago.