Lady Falcons survive Lady Bulldogs in UAAP volleyball

MANILA, Philippines –Adamson got off to a winning start even under a new tutelage, nipping National University,  15-25,25-21, 25-22, 18-25, 15-10, Saturday in the 75th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the San Juan Arena.

Veteran Pau Soriano unleashed 21 points, including four blocks, but it was her final attack that mattered most as she scored the clincher for the Lady Falcons in the fifth set.

“Okay na ang leadership ni Pau kasi iyon ang kailangan i-work niya.  Nandoon na ang laro niya,” said coach Sherwin Meneses about Soriano, one of the seniors of the squad.

While Soriano is on her final year, it is the first of Meneses as the head mentor, taking over long-time coach Dulce Pante.

“Nabigla kami sa first set, kasi first game.  Siyempre, nandoon yung pressure, pero mabuti naka-recover” said Meneses as Adamson got routed in the first set by NU.

Adamson came roaring back from a 4-8 deficit in the deciding set, as Soriano gave her squad the edge, after a 10-all lock, on back-to-back drops.

Sheila Pineda added 12 points and Amanda Villanueva had 10 the the Lady Falcons, who missed the Final Four cut last season.

The Lady Bulldogs’ setback put a damper on Dindin Santiago’s debut with the team as he poured a game-high 23 points, including six service aces.

NU, already down two sets to one, forged a decider with an 18-25 win in the fourth.