Adamson recovers from 0-2 hole to stun FEU in semis opener

MANILA,  Philippines – Adamson woke up just in time to shock Far Eastern University, 19-25, 22-25, 26-24, 25-15, 15-12, in the opener of their best-of-three semifinals series in the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 First Conference Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Falcons were on the verge of dropping Game 1 as the Lady Tamaraws moved to within a point of winning in straight sets, 24-22.

“I just told them not to feel pressured,” said Adamson coach Sherwin Meneses in Filipino.

And the Lady Falcons took their coach’s words to heart as they racked up four straight points during that stretch and three sets in a row.

“Our reception got better and we lessened our errors from the third set to the fifth that’s why we were able to get good attacks,” Meneses said on what changed for his team after losing the first two sets.

After blowing out FEU in the fourth set, Adamson carried its momentum over into the deciding set racing to a 10-5 buffer on one of Shiela Pineda’s 21 kills as she scored between two blockers before Thai import Patcharee Saengmuang put the exclamation point on the Lady Falcons’ comeback with a booming hit.

Saengmuang scored 21 points, including the game-sealing spike, where she, after delivering it with such resolve, walked off as her teammates ran towards her in celebration.

Pineda tallied a team-high 22 points and had 19 digs.

Guest player Jovelyn Gonzaga topscored with 24 points, six came off blocks, for the Lady Tams, who lost for the first time since tapping the lefty Gonzaga and Rachel Ann Daquis as reinforcements.

Gonzaga remains Adamson’s main concern heading into Game 2 on Tuesday also at the Arena.

“Jov (Gonzaga) is really a good defender. We really need to focus on their key players especially Jov,” Meneses said.

Daquis and Bernadette Pons scored 16 points apiece for FEU.

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