La Salle volleybelles on target, book 3rd straight UAAP semis stint

La Salle outplayed Far Eastern, 25-19, 25-11, 25-23 Wednesday at The Arena in San Juan to march into the UAAP women’s volleyball semifinal round for the third straight season. The Lady Archers drew solid games from veteran Jacqueline Alarca and Michelle Gumabao to seal their ninth win in 10 matches in this tournament. Alarca had 13 points while the vastly-improved Gumabao, who got significant playing time this season after seeing herself riding the bench last season, added 11 for the Taft-based volleybelles. The Lady Archers accomplished the win in 72 minutes of play. Alarca and Gumabao teamed up to quell repeated uprisings by FEU, which took a 23-22 lead in the third set. Alarca scored against two blockers to tie the match, and Gumabao came up with two hits to end the game. Abigail Marano and Stephanie Mercado each added eight points for the Lady Archers, who have beaten FEU for the sixth straight time, dating back to Game 2 of their finals series two years ago. FEU had its three-game winning run snapped, and absorbed its seventh defeat in 10 games. Rosemarie Vargas, who was instrumental in the Lady Tams' third-set uprising, led her team with 13 points while veteran Maica Morada added 12 markers. Katherine Magsumbol and Danna Henson combined for 14 points. In the other game, Adamson defeated University of the East, 25-16, 22-25, 25-15, 25-20, to forge a tie for third with idle Ateneo. Four players, led by Angela Benting's 18 points, scored in double figures for the Lady Falcons, who improved to 6-4. Pau Soriano had 15 while Angela Quinlog and Shiela Pineda tallied 11 points apiece. - KY, RCJ, GMANews.TV