After suffering another close first set loss, the Lady Bulldogs simply folded up in the next two frames en route in posting their second straight setback.

NU fell to 4-6 slate, trailing one and a half games behind fourth-running Adamson (5-4), in the race for the last ‘Final Four’ berth.

“Masaya na ako sa ipinapakita ng mga players ko. We should keep on winning para maging mataas ang standings after two rounds,” said Lady Eagles mentor Roger Gorayeb.

Currently the hottest team in the league, Ateneo cemented its hold of third spot with a 6-4 record.

Fille Cainglet had 18 points while Dzi Gervacio added 12 hits for the Lady Eagles, who are seeking their second straight semis appearance.

Cai Nepomuceno fired 16 points while Mervic Mangui added nine hits for the Lady Bulldogs.

Ateneo was in total control of the second frame, taking advantage of NU’s maze of errors.

The Lady Eagles padded their lead to 21-10 after rookie Ella de Jesus unloaded a service ace.

Meanwhile, JP Torres, Jayson Ramos and Jay Depante combined for 39 hits to help reigning men’s titlist UST barge to the ‘Final Four’ with a 25-23, 25-21, 25-16 win over NU.

Ronjay Galang had 25 hits as Adamson outlasted UP, 25-16, 25-20, 17-25, 25-23.

In the second match, University of the Philippines pulled off a stunning 25-23, 13-25, 25-23, 20-25, 24-22 upset victory over defending champion University of Santo Tomas to snap an eight-game losing streak.

The Lady Maroons, who last beat the Tigresses in the first round of the 2008-09 season, improved to 2-8 mark to avert early elimination in the ‘Final Four’ race.

Carmela Lopez fired 20 hits, including three service aces, while Angeli Araneta added 15 points and Joyce Palad had 11 hits, including four blocks, for UP.

Suffering its third loss in four games, UST skidded to 7-3 behind the league-leading 8-1 slate of La Salle.

Maika Ortiz had 18 points while Aiza Maizo had 17 hits and Judy Caballejo contributed 14 points for the Tigresses.

Theodore Jurado, Journal Online