Pinoy Spikers (Philippine Spike)

LYCEUM bucked a sluggish opening set to outlast reigning CESAFI champion Southwestern University, 21-25, 27-25, 25-16, 25-15, for a winning start in the Shakey’s V-League first conference Tuesday night at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

In the first match, former national youth standout Patty Orendain unloaded 22 hits as Bacolod’s University of St. La Salle nipped sister team College of Saint Benilde, 25-21, 25-27, 18-25, 25-17, 15-11.

Joy Cases uncorked all of her 20 hits from attacks, while reinforcements Mary Jean Balse and Dahlia Cruz chipped in 19 and 12 points, respectively, for the Lady Pirates, who are dominating the WNCAA scene for more than a decade.

“Wala pa sa kondisyon masyado yung dalawang guest players namin.  I hope makabawi sila sa Sunday game namin sa Ateneo, 50-50 ang chance namin na manalo,” said long-time Lyceum mentor Emil Lontoc. Read the rest of this entry »

EXPECT fireworks right on the opening day of the Shakey’s V-League second conference as four title contenders clash in separate matches on Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

San Sebastian College, installed as the top pick following the withdrawal of six-time champion University of Santo Tomas, opens its title drive in the season-ending tournament against Lyceum, a team which showed a lot of promise but failed to sustain its charge in the first conference.

Ateneo, which tapped another Thai import in the name of Surasawadee Boonyuen to anchor its campaign for a first ever championship in the league battles an equally-talented and title-hungry Far Eastern University squad.

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MAKE it 9-of-9 for University of Santo Tomas.  And for the fifth time in Shakey’s V-League history, they will face San Sebastian College in the finals.

The three-peat seeking Tigresses forged another championship duel with the Lady Stags by booting out Lyceum, 25-19, 21-25, 25-17, 25-18, in the semifinals decider Tuesday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

UST won the best-of-three series, 2-1, to claim a record ninth finals appearance in the tournament sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and backed by PLDT myDSL. Game 1 is slated on Sunday.

“We are getting there (in our championship form) pero mayroon pa kaming dapat i-polish.  Happy ako kasi nasunod ng mga bata yung gameplan namin, especially on defense,” said assistant mentor Vilet Ponce de Leon, who handled the Tigresses for the second straight game.

Aiza Maizo uncorked 18 hits while guest player Mary Jean Balse chipped in 11 points for UST. The Tigresses also drew big games from Maika Ortiz and reinforcement Michelle Carolino, who scored 10 points, while libero Jec Curato had 18 digs. Joy Cases had 19 points while Thai import Tip Santrong added 17 markers for the Lady Pirates, who failed again on their elusive championship bid.

In the third and fourth set, UST unleashed its deadly form which gave the Espana-based squad their last two titles in the league organized by Sports Vision and supported by Accel, Mikasa and Mighty Bond. Lyceum took a 5-0 and 8-3 leads early in the third frame before the Lady Pirates folded up with Tigresses doing the damage with their impressive combo plays.

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