The San Sebastian lasses, the reigning NCAA titlists, encountered some anxious moments only in the third set but recovered in time to post their seventh win in eight outings and join Adamson University in the semifinals.

Ateneo, which missed the services of Thai guest player Kanchana Jindarat, skidded to their fifth defeat in eight outings.

Jindarat, whose father died in a car accident, flew back to Thailand yesterday.

Laurence Anne Latigay produced 13 kills while Rysabelle Devandera and Analyn Benito joined hands for 17 markers to backstop SSC which fell into a maze of errors in the third frame after waxing hot in the first two sets.

The SSC tossers were lethargic at the start of the third set, blocking only one shot and committing 11 errors that enabled the Lady Eagles to take a 24-19 lead.

San Sebastian, however, refused to give up and threw everything it had to claim the next seven points for the win.

"Actually sanay na ako na laging nasa semifinals. Halos taon-taon nandito kami. Ang mas gusto kong ma-achieve, eh yung championship. lagi kasing nauudlot," said SSC mentor Roger Gorayeb, whose wards placed runner-up in the last three conferences.

Ateneo actually played great defense as it limited SSC’s guest player Suzane Roces to only four points. But the culprit behind the Lady Eagles loss was their lack of firepower.

Team captain Charo Soriano was the only player in double figures with game-high 17 points.

Earlier, Far Eastern University flexed just enough muscle to down College of St. Benilde, 25-11, 25-17, 25-19, for its second straight win.

Despite playing minus ace spiker Shaira Gonzales, the FEU lasses repulsed the repeated rallies of the CSB spikers to post a follow-up win to their 25-19, 18-25, 22-25, 25-23, 15-12 decision over Ateneo that snapped their sevengame losing skid.

Macaila Morada stepped up big time to fill the void left by Gonzales, who is currently playing in the Nestea beach volleyball tournament in Boracay.

Morada fired a game-high 15 points, two coming from blocks while Cherry Vibas and Mary Rose Cabanag combined for 18 points for FEU, which handed CSB its seventh straight loss in as many outings in this tournament sponsored by Mikasa, Skin White, Mail and More, Accel and presented by Sports Vision.

With Morada, Vibas, and Cabanag making defensive walls over the net, the Lady Tams dictated the tempo of the 68-minute encounter en route to their third victory in 10 games.