No packing their bags yet for Lady Bombers
JRU’s Riza Rose over SSC-R’s Kat Santos and Amaka Tan (NCAA / GMA Photo)
The Lady Bombers are here to fight another day.
Dolly Verzosa made sure of that.
“I didn’t shed tears just so we’d finish at fourth place,” said the graduating outside hitter after powering Jose Rizal University (JRU) to a 25-21, 18-25, 22-25, 25-20, 15-9 victory over San Sebastian in the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament on Friday at Filoil Flying V Centre.
“Our [last] Final Four [appearance] was already the legacy of Shola [Alvarez, former league Most Valuable Player]. We want to make history, too,” said Verzosa, who finished with 16 points, including the match-clinching kill, while doing her share of defensive coverage with two blocks and 15 digs.
“Both Kia [Melgar] and I, we want to make history so that we will leave JRU with a beautiful memory,” added Verzosa.
Their legacy
Melgar led the Lady Bombers with 18 points, including four blocks, while Sydney Niegos added 15 points, along with three blocks.
Verzosa and Melgar have already written their own chapters in JRU history. Whatever happens, the school will mark its best finish in women’s volleyball after taking a step up the semifinal stepladder.
Up next for the Lady Bombers, who had to win their last elimination round game against Lyceum to make it to the Final Four, is Arellano University, the No. 2 team that won the last three completed editions of this tournament.
The two teams collide at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Filoil arena.
The winner will play undefeated College of Saint Benilde in the best-of-three Finals starting on Wednesday.
JRU setter Jerry Lyn Laurente ran the offense well, tossing 25 excellent serves to her hitters. Riza Rose had nine points while Lyka Egera added eight for the Lady Bombers.
JRU stormed to a 6-0 lead in the deciding set, but San Sebastian fought back, closing in at 9-7. But the Lady Bombers scored five of the next six points to storm ahead anew. San Sebastian saved just one match point before Verzosa delivered the season-extending kill.
