Tigresses foil SSC, make QF

University of Santo Tomas survived an explosive performance from San Sebastian reinforcement Jeng Bualee as the Tigresses rallied past the Lady Stags,19-25, 25-14, 25-22, 25-22, yesterday to clinch a quarterfinal berth in the Shakey’s V-League First Conference at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Tigresses drew 18 points from Maika Ortiz and 17 from Carmela Tunay in posting their second win in three games. They join Ateneo from Group A in the next phase.

Bualee fired a tournament-high 38 points, but the Lady Stags got little production from other players in the squad, dooming them to their second straight loss.

National U later rallied to wallop University of San Carlos, 23-25, 25-17, 25-10, 25-20, for its third straight victory.

The Lady Bulldogs leaned on the steady play of Rubie de Leon, who delivered 32 excellent sets.

Lady Bulldogs attackers Dindin Santiago, Myla Pablo and Cai Nepomuceno combined for 41 hits in another sterling performance for coach Edjet Mabayyad’s squad.

“She’s a big help to the team,” Mabayyad said of De Leon, who also played for San Sebastian. “Her experience is important for a young team like ours.”

Guest player Aiza Maizo fired 10 points, including two aces, and eight digs while Rhea Dimaculangan came through with 35 excellent sets for UST.

Jessey de Leon scored on a service ace to break a 22-all deadlock in the fourth set, boosting the Tigresses.

No stranger to scoring in bunches, Bualee almost singlehandedly lifted the Lady Stags, who fell to the bottom of Group A.

The output was two short of her all-time high of 40 points which she posted in the Lady Stags’ 22-25, 29-27, 14-25, 25-23, 15-12 win also against the Tigresses in May 29 last year.