Lyceum, FEU keep bids alive

Lyceum and Far Eastern University boosted their quarterfinal hopes after pulling off straight-set victories in the Shakey’s V-League Season 7 second conference yesterday at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Guest player Mary Jean Balse tossed in 20 points to power the Lyceum Lady Pirates to a 26-24, 25-16, 25-21 victory over the pesky Perpetual Help Lady Altas.

FEU later tied the Lady Pirates in a tie for second at 3-2 after the Lady Tamaraws dispatched the National U Lady Bulldogs, 25-11, 25-19, 25-14, in the second game.

Rachelle Ann Daquis paced the Lady Tamaraws with 11 points, including two service aces and a block, while Monique Tiangco chipped in 10 markers.

The Lady Pirates had 48 spikes, 20 coming from Balse, while holding down the Lady Altas to just 33 kills.

“We had an advantage because they had a smaller lineup and they also had a hard time setting their plays,” Lyceum coach Emil Lontoc said in Filipino.

Joy Cases also delivered 15 points and Dahlia Cruz added 11 markers for the Lady Pirates.

Balse, the former MVP and University of Santo Tomas star, suited up for the Lady Pirates as a guest player after the six-time champion Tigresses opted to skip this conference.

The Lady Altas posed a strong challenge with guest player Nica Guliman and Sandra delos Santos combining for nine of the team’s 11 blocks.

San Sebastian-Excelroof, playing against Adamson at press time, holds the solo lead with a 4-0 record.

The Lady Bulldogs dropped to fifth with a 2-2 slate and the Lady Altas skidded to 1-4.

Guliman had 16 points to lead the Lady Altas and Delos Santos added 14.