Ateneo bows to Lyceum in V-League thriller

ATENEO did not know what it hit them when Lyceum won the game’s last three sets.

Guest player Mary Jean Balse fired a personal-best 37 points, including five blocks, as the Lady Pirates posted an  improbable 22-25, 16-25, 25-11, 28-26, 15-9 win over the Lady Eagles in the Shakey’s V-League second conference quarterfinals late Thursday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Lyceum improved to 5-3 slate to join Ateneo in third place behind league-leaders San Sebastian College-Excelroof (7-2) and Adamson (7-2).

Balse equaled the league’s second all-time individual scoring record by Angela Benting of the Lady Falcons in the 2009 second conference semifinals and Lithawat Kesinee of the Lady Eagles in the 2007 second conference semis.

Ateneo’s Sontaya Keawbundit holds to all-time record of 38 points she set in the battle for third place in the 2010 first conference.

The Lady Eagles, starring guest player Alyssa Valdez, took advantage of the lackadaisical performance of the Lady Pirates to snatch the first two sets.

But in the third frame, Ateneo took Lyceum, as Balse took over from there.

The Lady Pirates then used their vaunted defense against the Lady Eagles to send the game to a decider.

Both teams were battling nip and tuck in the last frame, until Balse and fellow guest player Dahlia Cruz scored critical hits for Lyceum to seal the victory.

Cruz chipped in 18 hits while Joy Cases added 12 points, including two service aces, for the Lady Pirates.

Valdez finished with 17 hits for Ateneo.    Dzi Gervacio and Thai import Lek Surasawadee added 14 and 13 hits, respectively. (TJ)