Semis in sight for Lady Tams

BERNADETH Pons of Far Eastern U soars for a spike off Katherine Villegas of San Sebastian during their quarterfinal match yesterday. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

ALL fired up after a first loss, Far Eastern University drubbed San Sebastian in straight sets, 27-25, 27-20, 25-11, to zero in on a semifinal berth in the Shakey’s  V-League Season 13 Collegiate Conference yesterday at Filoil Flying V Centre.

“I told the players that if the reason for that loss was to make us stronger, there’s no problem,” said FEU coach Shaq delos Santos as the Lady Tamaraws grabbed a share of the top spot at 3-1, just three days after a five-set setback to National University.

Each set posed a different challenge for the Lady Tamaraws, but they came out triumphant in each one behind Bernadeth Pons, Remy Palma and Toni Rose Basas.

“I just reminded them to focus and bring back our old game,” said Delos Santos.

In the nightcap, University of the Philippines bucked a series of service errors in the fourth and pounded out a 25-18, 14-25, 25-20, 25-18 victory over Ateneo to bolster its bid with a 2-1 card. Ateneo dropped to 1-2.

Pons unleashed 17 points to lead the Lady Tamaraws, who came back from an 18-22 deficit and overcame the Lady Stags’ multiple set point advantages to steal the opener, 27-25.

With Grethcel Soltones at the helm, the Lady Stags kept the second set tight, 19-19, before the Lady Tamaraws closed out strong with a 6-1 spurt for a 25-20 win.

In full control by the third frame, the Lady Tamaraws roared to a 20-8 start on the way to a lopsided final set.

Palma finished with 14 points, while Basas and Heather Guino-o scored nine each for FEU.

In men’s action, National University repulsed Perpetual Help, 25-21, 25-22, 25-22, to nail the first semifinal berth in Group A of the Spikers’ Turf Season 2 Collegiate Conference.

Madzlan Gampong, Bryan Bagunas and Francis Philip Saura teamed up for 33 points to power the Bulldogs, who wrapped up their elimination run with a 4-1 slate.

FEU and La Salle, tied at 3-1, will dispute the other semifinal slot in the group next week, while Ateneo also punched a ticket to the next round with a 4-0 card in Group B.