UAAP volleyball: Trisha Genesis delivers when it matters most for Adamson

Trisha Genesis breaks down in tears after Adamson stays alive in Final Four race. UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Trisha Genesis didn’t let Adamson down when it mattered most, keeping her team alive in the UAAP Season 84 women’s volleyball tournament.

Adamson and Ateneo, who both finished the season with 8-6 records, will clash in a no-tomorrow playoff for No.4 on Saturday.

Fighting for their dear life, Genesis took matters into her own hands with 20 points as Adamson upset La Salle, 25-23, 17-25, 25-16, 26-24, to secure a playoff for the last Final Four ticket on Thursday at Mall of Asia Arena.

“I don’t want to give up. I don’t want to let my team down even if my game was off, especially in the first set,” said Genesis, who was in tears during the post-game press conference.

“I kept in my mind that I won’t give this game to La Salle because it’s now or never.”

Adamson coach Lerma Giron and all the Lady Falcons were emotional while on their knees after beating the Lady Spikers for the first time since 2018 — when Jema Galanza and Mylene Paat stunned the Ramil de Jesus-coached squad.

“We are so emotional because our team has been through a lot this pandemic from the offseason until now. Everyone sacrificed for the team. And it’s a big relief that we’re on the right path for the Final Four,” said Giron in Filipino.

Now that they earned their second chance, Giron said her wards have no plans of wasting this opportunity to bring back Adamson to the semifinals for the first time in eight years.

“We have to work hard for that playoff game,” said Giron. “They just have to embrace their responsibilities. I’m proud of these ladies, they refused to give up even though it’s hard to score a point and even we trailed.”