Defending champion National University; league-leaders Far Eastern University and De La Salle University; and University of Santo Tomas all clinched semifinal spots in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Lady Bulldogs overpowered the UP Fighting Maroons, 25-12, 25-22, 25-17, while the Golden Tigresses swept the UE Lady Warriors, 25-22, 25-21, 25-21.
Meanwhile, the Lady Spikers earned a gritty 25-18, 25-20, 20-25, 20-25, 17-15 marathon win over archrivals Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles.
The Lady Tamaraws, after a slow start, rallied to overcome reigning NCAA champions College of Saint Benilde Lady Blazers, 21-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-17.
La Salle is set to face UST in the semifinals of this tournament supported by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, GCash, Chery Tiggo, F2 Logistics, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, R&B Milk Tea, and Summit Water.
Meanwhile, FEU squares off against NU on Wednesday.
In a nail-biting fifth set, the Lady Spikers held their ground, saving two match points. But Amie Provido’s game-clinching block sealed the win following a costly Ateneo error, ending the three-hour, two-minute thriller.
Angel Canino led La Salle with 17 points, including 15 kills, while Shevana Laput added 16 points, with five coming in the deciding set.
Provido added 13 points from seven spikes, three aces, and three blocks, while Katrina Del Castillo chipped in 11 points highlighted by five blocks.
La Salle fought back from a 5-7 deficit early in the fifth and engaged Ateneo in a back-and-forth rally.
Winger Lyann De Guzman pushed Ateneo to match point at 14-13, but teammate Sophia Buena’s service error tied it at 14-all.
De Guzman put Ateneo back in the lead before Jyne Soreno scored to even it at 15.
A De Guzman attack error gave La Salle the edge, then Provido’s final block sealed the Lady Spikers’ seventh straight win.
“Nung last two sets, medyo nawalan kami ng composure kaya pinaalalahanan kami ng mga coaches na gumalaw sa galaw namin and bumalik kami sa sistema,” said Provido.
(C) Roman Prospero/SSL
The Lady Tamaraws, meanwhile, bounced back from a rusty start, led by seniors Chenie Tagaod, Alyzza Devosora, and Gerzel Petallo.
The Lady Tamaraws took advantage of the Lady Blazers’ 30 errors to secure their second straight semis appearance after last year’s third-place finish.
Devosora and Tagaod led FEU with 15 points each, both notching 14 attacks, while Petallo contributed 10 points and Clarisse Loresco added six markers.
Tagaod played a key role in the third set, breaking away with timely attacks as FEU widened their lead. She capped the one-hour, 53-minute game with a decisive hit, showcasing her best scoring performance of the tournament.
“I think makakatulong siya knowing na papasok na kami sa semifinals so kailangan talagang trabahuhin and mas maging consistent pa,” Tagaod commented.
(C) Roman Prospero/SSL
For NU, Bella Belen tallied nine attacks, two aces, and a block for a game-high 12 points.
Alyssa Solomon added 10 points as the Lady Bulldogs advanced to their third consecutive semifinal in the competition which is backed by Smart Sports, PLDT Fibr, Mikasa, Asics, Rebel Sports, Eurotel, Victory Liner, CHED, PSC, and SM Tickets as technical partners.
“Ayaw naming ma-waste ‘yung pinaghirapan namin sa training. Bakit pa kami naghihirap sa training kung hindi namin na-aapply sa game?” remarked Solomon, the reigning tournament MVP.
(C) Roman Prospero/SSL
For UST, Angge Poyos fired 10 of her 15 points in the third set, finishing off a 13-3 scoring run to overturn a 12-18 deficit.
Regina Jurado also contributed 12 points, powered by eight spikes, three aces, and a block for the Golden Tigresses.
“Inisip lang namin na i-compose ang sarili namin kasi nga malaki ang lamang ng kalaban. ‘Yung consistency all throughout the game ‘yun talaga ang pinanghahawakan namin and ‘yung communication sobrang importante talaga,” Poyos shared.
De Guzman registered 17 points from spikes for Ateneo, while rookie middle blocker Kassandra Doering led UP with 10 points.
Despite Jelai Gajero’s 18-point effort, the Lady Warriors fell short and were relegated to the classification phase.
