Lyceum of the Philippines University escaped Mapua University, pulling off a 25-18, 25-23, 29-31, 27-25 win in their knockout stepladder clash in the NCAA Season 98 women’s volleyball Final Four on Sunday.
The win assured Lyceum at least a third place finish as it set up another do-or-die match against second-seed University of Perpetual Help System DALTA on Wednesday.
The Lady Pirates once again flaunted their depth with middle blockers Zonxi Dahab and Jaja Tulang pouring in some important points in the third set.
Joan Doguna then went for a down-the-line hit as they went to the second TTO holding on to a 16-14 cushion. Star rookie Roxie Dela Cruz was the bright spot for an error-plagued Mapua in the frame, cutting their deficit to one, 17-18.
Babs Babiera’s service went wide, giving Lyceum a 23-22 upper hand but the Lady Cardinals fought on, extending the march after a grueling 31-29 third set victory.
The Lady Pirates built a 19-15 cushion in the fourth before Hannah De Guzman powered a 4-0 run to knot it all up. Doguna’s back-to-back attacks and Dahab’s quicker put Lyceum up at much-needed 23-19 advantage.
Mapua answered with a 3-0 rampage before Dela Cruz’s service error brought Lyceum to the match point, 25-24. Dahab’s quick attack and an ace sealed the deal for the Lady Pirates, who trooped to the Final Four for the first time in school’s history.
Doguna dropped 22 points while Dolorito shone from both ends to finish with 14 markers laced with nine digs and 11 receptions.
Dahab and Tuland chimed in with 13 and 10 points apiece.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
