SHAKEY’S V-LEAGUE: St. La Salle inches closer to semis

MANILA, Philippines – University of St. La Salle moved to within a win away from a semifinals berth after a grind-it-out 25-15, 25-14, 22-25, 12-25, 15-9 triumph over Southwestern University in the Shakey’s V-League Season 8 First Conference Tuesday at the Arena in San Juan.

Patty Orendain shone anew with a stellar 27-point outburst for the Lady Stingers.

“We relaxed, good thing [my players] were able to wake up just in time,” said USLS coach Roger Banzuela.

Meanwhile, guest player Mary Jean Balse and Joy Cases provided the scoring punch as Lyceum thwarted Perpetual Help, 21-25, 25-22, 29-27, 25-20 in the first game.

Balse and Cases unleashed 16 points apiece.

The Lady Altas failed to draw a much needed offensive boost from their reliable hitters aside from new guest player and Thai import Jeng Bualee, who replaced Michelle Datuin.

Bualee pumped in a game-high 23 points.