Jema Galanza tows Adamson past UST in 5 sets

Adamson blew a two sets to none advantage before surviving University of Santo Tomas,  25-22, 25-21, 20-25, 28-30, 16-14, to open its campaign in the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament on a high note Wednesday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Jema Galanza set a career-high 28 points to tow the Lady Falcons, who squandered big leads in the third and fourth sets.

Galanza, the third-year spiker, had 25 attacks and three service aces, the last sealing the victory.

“We just kept on fighting. That was our mindset,” said Galanza in Filipino in a television interview right after the game.

Adamson’s win also spoiled the head-coaching debut of Emilio “Kungfu” Reyes for the Tigresses, who played their first minus key player Pam Lastimosa.

Lastimosa is out for the season due to a knee injury she suffered during practice.

Adamson trailed, 10-9, in the fifth set after a Laure hit, before recovering with the leadership of Galanza and Paat, whose block put the Lady Falcons at match point, 14-12.

Without Lastimosa, UST drew solid performances from sophomore skipper EJ Laure, Cherry Rondina, Rica Rivera and Ria Meneses before wavering late in the fifth set.

The Tigresses showed great resolve as they came from an early six-point deficit in the third set before rising from 20-13 down in the fourth to force the deciding set behind Rondina and Laure.