UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas and Ateneo found unlikely heroes in hacking out contrasting victories yesterday at the start of the best-of-three semifinals of the Shakey’s V-League Season 9 First Conference at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Judy Ann Caballejo stepped up in the absence of Mary Jean Balse in the final set as the Tigresses outlasted the San Sebastian Lady Stags, 25-11, 25-17, 23-25, 21-25, 15-8, before the Lady Eagles, drawing a superb effort from seldom-used Ella de Jesus, overcame the Perpetual Help Lady Altas in three closely fought sets, 31-29, 25-21, 25-19.
Caballejo finished with 19 points, including four key smashes in the deciding game as the Tigresses regrouped just in time and moved within a victory of a 10th championship appearance.
Providing the Lady Eagles’ attack with another option apart from Alyssa Valdez and Kesinee Lithawat, De Jesus wound up with nine points in just two sets.
Valdez wound up with 15 points, including the kill that wrapped up a pulsating first set, while Kesinee added 14 for the Lady Eagles, who remained unbeaten in nine games.
UST coach Odjie Mamon quickly pointed to Caballejo’s contributions as key factors in their win.
“She may not score a lot of points apart from today but her help with our floor defense has been a big factor,” said Mamon. With reports from Rodolfo Lozada and Jan Edward Ballesteros, Contributors