Santiagos put NU in finals

MANILA, Philippines — The statuesque Santiago sisters starred anew as National University blasted University of Santo Tomas in straight sets, 25-21, 25-22, 25-19, Tuesday to nail the first championship berth in the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 First Conference at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The 6-foot-2 Dindin and the 6-4 Jaja Santiago, who combined for 33 points in NU’s Game 1 win, tossed in 14 hits each to lead the Lady Bulldogs to a series sweep of the Tigresses.

“I always tell my players that it’s our defense that will bring us to the finals and I’m glad they listened,” said NU coach Ariel dela Cruz as the Lady Bulldogs posted 11 blocks against the Tigresses’ five.

Far Eastern University, though, forged a rubber match for the last finals slot after downing Adamson, 25-22, 25-23, 26-24, in Game 2 of their own best-of-three encounter.

Bernadette Pons paced the Lady Tamaraws with 16 points, including three service aces and three blocks, while guest players Rachel Ann Daquis and Jovelyn Gonzaga combined for 29.

Game 3 is set at 4 p.m. Thursday also at Filoil Flying V Arena.

“We focused on improving our defense,” said FEU coach Shaq delos Santos, after the Lady Tamaraws recovered from a Game 1 meltdown where they blew a two-set lead. “What cost us our last game was Adamson’s better defense. I told them that we should at least stay at par or be better in defense.”

The Lady Tamaraws showed more composure this time after the Lady Falcons survived match point twice behind Shiele Pineda’s back-to-back attacks, 24-24.

Averting a repeat of their third-set collapse, the Lady Tamaraws wrapped it up in straight sets on Geneveve Casugod’s drop and Pineda’s attack error.

Carmin Aganon chipped in 12 points and Myla Pablo added nine for the Lady Bulldogs, who are on track to defending their crown.

The Lady Bulldogs also held UST’s top scorer Ennajie Laure to just 10 points as Pablo and Jaja Santiago helped thwart the rookie by combining for six of the team’s 11 blocks. With reports from Michael Carlo Rodolfo and Ralph Joshua Hernandez, Contributors-trainees