MANILA, Philippines — Adamson fended off a last ditch rally by St. Benilde and came away with a 25-9, 25-19, 27-25 win Sunday in the 11th Shakey’s V-League First Conference at the Arena in San Juan.
With a set away from the victory, head coach Sherwin Meneses fielded in his second stringers to get the job done for the quarterfinals-bound Lady Falcons.
But the Lady Blazers took advantage of Adamson’s rotation and built an early lead in third set with Michelle Datuin, Jeanette Panaga and Therese Veronas taking charge.
Familiar faces, though, delivered for the Lady Falcons as Mylene Paat provided a jolt off the bench and tied the match at 20-all, while Amanda Villanueva connected on marginal hits to help them reach match point.
Villanueva gave Adamson the lead twice late in the set, and when St. Benilde wrestled for the egde, her hit set knotted the match at 25.
Sparingly-sued Gel Akuino put the Lady Falcons at match point with a block, before a hitting error for Veronas sealed the victory.
“We tried using the players we’re going to use in the UAAP so they can experience the crowd,” said Meneses who also commended second setter Fenela Emnas and Jessica Galanza.
Emnas finished with six points and 17 excellent sets, while Galanza added nine points including the Lady Falcons’ lone service winner.
Paat and Thai reinforcement Pacharee Sangmuang fired 10 hits apiece as top hitters Shiela Pineda and Pau Soriano rode the bench for most of the match in preparation for the Lady Falcons’ quarterfinals drive. Sangmuang sat out in the third set.
Adamson tied with Arellano and Ateneo at the end of the single round elims at 4-1 in Group A, but the Lady Falcons will settle for third place with the lowest quotient.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t get an incentive [for a better standing], but that’s okay. We’re just going to play all out every game,” Meneses added.
Despite the loss, the Lady Blazers took the last quarters seat with a 2-3 card.
RELATED STORY
Tigresses subdue Lady Agilas in Shakey’s V-League