Adamson ousts La Salle to nab last final 4 slot in UAAP men’s volley

Adamson men’s volleyball team sings their alma mater hymn after completing the UAAP final four cast. Photo by Celest Flores/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Adamson made most of a second chance and nabbed the last final four spot from La Salle in the UAAP season 76 men’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday.

The Falcons gave the Green Archers the boot with a masterful 25-20, 27-25, 25-23 win in a playoff match at the Arena in San Juan to complete the men’s semifinals cast.

Adamson was given another crack when La Salle, which just needed a win to advance, fell to a mammoth upset by University of the East, who was winless for the first 13 games, last Sunday.

“Maybe this was meant for us,” an elated head coach Domingo Custodio said in Filipino after the match. “I already told my players to rest before we found out we still had a chance.”

The Falcons, aware of their size disadvantage against the Green Archers, made up for it with super reception and sturdy finishing each set.

“We really practiced our reception. That’s what we want. They’re tall, so we want to have a good reception to counter that,” said Custodio.

Adamson always trailed La Salle early each set, even by as many as 13-8 in the third set, but had no problems turning things around.

In the second set, the Green Archers were a point away from tying the game but the Falcons didn’t back down for a 27-25 win.

“I just reminded them to stick to our game plan, ‘receive, receive, receive,’ I sounded like a broken record but that’s what we needed to do,” said Custodio.

Michael Sudaria, who is playing on his final year, finished with 16 points while John Edison Mallapre added 14 points, including three blocks.

The Falcons will face no. 1 seed National University, which has a twice-to-beat-edge, in the final four on Saturday.