Last year’s Finals protagonists De La Salle College of Saint Benilde Lady Blazers and Arellano University Lady Chiefs subdued the Lyceum of the Philippines University Lady Pirates and University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Lady Altas, respectively, to keep their unscathed records, Tuesday at the FilOil Flying V Arena, San Juan City.
The Lady Blazers needed barely an hour to dominate the Lady Pirates in straight sets, 25-15 25-19 25-14, to pick up their third straight win. CSB used their height and experience to overpower Lyceum in all scoring departments: 26-21 on attacks, 7-2 blocks, and 9-3 on service aces. The 33 errors of the Lady Pirates were too much, as the Lady Blazers continued to live up to their billing as one of the title favorites with this dominant win. Jeanette Panaga and Janine Navarro once more topscored CSB with 11 points each. All of the Lady Blazers played in this victory, with veteran setter Djanel Cheng chipping in 5 markers. Jhemil Abadilla and Dhiane Ibit had 5 points each to lead all of the Lady Pirates.
The scores:
CSB (3) – Panaga 11, Navarro 11, Cheng 5, Musa 4, Borrero 3, Santillan 3, Dolorito 3, Austero 1, Daguil 1, Lizares 0, Ventura 0, Umali 0, Torres (L), Lim (L)
LPU (0) – Abadilla 5, Ibit 5, Malapit 4, Andres 4, Miralles 3, Fabay 2, Sindayen 1, Orros 1, Calugcungan 1, Cruz 0, Al. Paredes 0, Inton 0, An. Paredes (L), Geronimo (L)
In the second game, defending champions Arellano dispatched the Lady Altas in four sets, 25-17 25-16 21-25 25-16, to also secure their third consecutive victory. The reigning queens started slow in each of the sets they won before pulling away in the respective middle parts to take the frames. However, in the third set, the Lady Altas took care of their lead and eventually closed it out in their favor. Perpetual were in the thick of the fight in terms of scoring skills; however, their 45 errors throughout the match spelled their demise. CJ Rosario once more led the defending champions with 13 markers, 10 of them coming from attacks. Wing attackers Danna Henson and Rialen Sante combined for 22 points for Arellano. Cindy Imbo had 19 markers for the Lady Altas off 17 attacks and 2 service aces.
The scores:
AU (3) – Rosario 13, Henson 11, Sante 11, Prado 6, Salamagos 6, Macabalitao 2, Ramirez 2, Sawali 1, Tan 0, Calixto 0, Arocha 0, Galang (L), Sanchez (L)
UPHSD (1) – Imbo 19, Clemente 13, Suyat 9, Bravo 4, Gual 3, Diocareza 2, Verzosa 1, Medalla 1, Umandal 0, Gayo 0, Rosal 0, Condada (L), Calleja (L)
