Game Sunday (The Arena, San Juan)
Playoff for the last semis slot
4 p.m. – FEU vs Ateneo

Riding on the MVP-like performance of Mary Jean Balse, Lyceum clinched the third Final Four slot even as Far Eastern University forged a do-or-die match for the last semis berth on Thursday in the 7th Shakey’s V-League second conference at The Arena in San Juan.

Despite playing with hurting knees, Balse logged 21 hits as the Lady Pirates dumped the National University Lady Bulldogs, 25-13, 26-24, 25-23, and secured their sixth semifinal stint since joining the league in 2004. She averaged 25 hits in the team’s last two wins.

With their backs against the wall, the Lady Tamaraws went to Rachel Anne Daquis to shock the fancied Ateneo Lady Eagles, 25-21, 27-25, 11-25, 25-18, and arrange a no-tomorrow match for the last semis slot against their victims on Sunday at 4 p.m. in the same venue.

The winner in Sunday’s knockout match will earn the right to face No. 1 San Sebastian-Excelroof (10-2) in a best-of-three semis series on Tuesday.

FEU coach Nestor Pamilar said the win gave them the psychological advantage going into the do-or-die match.

Save for a third set meltdown where they trailed by as high as 17 points (24-7), the Lady Tamaraws were in full command of the game – thanks largely to the 23-point effort of Daquis, who is being eyed by two teams to play in Germany.

The win thus allowed the Tamaraws to climb the fourth spot at 6-6, the same card of the Eagles, who dropped to their fourth loss in the quarterfinals.