MAPUA kept its Final Four bid alive with a come-from-behind 14-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-23 win over also-ran Emilio Aguinaldo College in the National Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball tournament at the San Andres Sports Complex on Saturday.

The Lady Cardinals wake up just in time after a so-so start before hitting the pedal to the metal in the next three sets en route to improving their win-loss slate to 5-2.

But more importantly, the victory moved Mapua within striking distance of the idle University of Perpetual Help System Dalta side at the second spot toting a 5-1 win-loss card.

It was Greg Cabadin who stood tallest for the Lady Cardinals’ stirring win as she came away with 16 points, spiked with two service aces.

Not to be outdone, Tere Manalo also scored 16 points for Mapua.

In the duel of eliminated squads, the San Sebastian Lady Stags finally barged into the win column at the expense of the Jose Rizal University Lady Bombers, 17-25, 28-26, 14-25, 25-16, 15-9.

KJ Dionisio had 27 points and seven digs while Tina Marasigan had three service aces for a 24-point outing as the Lady Stags rallied from a 1-2 set deficit to halt a six-match slide. Setter Vea Sison tallied 17 excellent sets and two service aces while libero Jewelle Bermillo collected 19 digs and 13 receptions.

Riza Rose and Mary May Ruiz scored 21 points apiece for the Lady Bombers, who stumbled to their seventh consecutive defeat.

San Sebastian and JRU reached the Final Four last season, but losses to their key players this season made them miss the next round.

The Bombers still have something to contend for despite all the struggles of their women’s squad.

In men’s play, Windel Laurenciana had 18 kills, 15 receptions, and 12 digs while Aldre Ferrer tossed in 26 excellent sets as JRU improved to 3-4 and bolstered its semis bid following a 25-20, 25-21, 25-27, 26-24 conquest of San Sebastian.

The Stags, who drew 23 points from Kyle Villamor, fell to 1-6.

Krizzia Reyes and Jamaica Villena had 20 and 12 points, respectively for the Lady Generals.

EAC fell in a tie with San Beda at 1-5.