Ateneo clinches last V-League finals slot

ATENEO DREW another solid game from Thai import Kesinee Lithawat as the Lady Eagles disposed of National University, 25-21, 25-20, 25-23, yesterday to claim the last championship berth in the Shakey’s V-League.

Kesinee tossed in a game-high 18 points, including key hits in an 8-0 scoring salvo that pushed the Lady Eagles ahead, 16-13, in the final frame of the winner-take-all Game 3 of the semifinals at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Ateneo, which had its Game 1 semifinal win forfeited, will clash with an Adamson side seeking a second straight title starting this Sunday.

“We’re here to prove them (critics) wrong,” said rookie coach Charo Soriano after her Lady Eagles wrapped up the best-of-three semifinal series at 2-1.

Alyssa Valdes scattered 15 points and Fille Cainglet scored all of her 14 points on spikes to help the Lady Eagles thwart the Lady Bulldogs’ comeback attempts.

Adamson clinched the first title berth last Tuesday after sweeping University of St. La Salle-Bacolod, 2-0, in the other semifinal series.

The Lady Eagles had the chance to sweep their own series after downing the Lady Bulldogs in straight sets, 25-14, 25-18, 25-20, in Game 2 last Tuesday.

But the league forfeited Ateneo’s Game 1 win, 25-27, 25-14, 25-10, 25-19, for fielding a libero Bea Tan, who is not a regular player, a violation of the FIVB (international volleyball body) rule. With a report from Carmela Dayauon