SUSTAINING her high-scoring act, Dindin Santiago racked up 36 points to power National University to a Group B sweep after a grueling 25-13, 25-21, 23-25, 24-26, 15-8 triumph over Perpetual Help in the Shakey’s V-League yesterday at Filoil Flying V Arena.
Santiago helped the Lady Bulldogs arrest a late meltdown in a scintillating performance that saw the towering hitter fire 28 attacks and seven of the Lady Bulldogs’ 11 service aces.
“I reminded them not to rush things, that we should have good services and hits,” said coach Edjet Mabayyad after his Lady Bulldogs, who are assured of a quarterfinal berth, stretched their unbeaten run to four.
In the second match, San Sebastian also overcame a tough challenge from Letran, 25-17, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23, to clinch a quarterfinal berth in Group A.
Jeng Bualee notched 25 points and Suzanne Roces added 19, including 13 attacks and five blocks, to lead
the Lady Stags to their first win in three games.
Santiago’s output was the highest scored by a local player since Adamson’s Angela Benting registered 37 points against San Sebastian on Nov. 24, 2009.
Myla Pablo scored all but one of her 15 points on kills and Santiago’s younger sister, Jaja, added 13 for the Lady Bulldogs.
The Lady Bulldogs looked ready to wrap up the match at 24-21 in the fourth frame, but the Lady Altas fought off match point with a Norie Diaz kill and service ace followed by Pablo’s two attacking errors.