Faith Nisperos leads Ateneo past Adamson and into the UAAP Season 84 semifinals. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Faith Nisperos unloaded 22 points as defending champion Ateneo drubbed Adamson, 25-20, 28-26, 25-22, Saturday night to clinch the last Final Four spot in the UAAP Season 84 women’s volleyball at Mall of Asia Arena.
Faced with the last-ditch effort of the Lady Falcons 21-20 in the third set, Nisperos made a push to the deep corner and then followed it up with another hit to help put away the match for the Blue Eagles.
The Blue Eagles get to continue their title-retention bid, but not without encountering big scares.
Ateneo will take University of Santo Tomas on Tuesday in the step-ladder to gain the right to challenge No. 2 team La Salle which will have a twice-to-beat shield. Waiting on the top of the stairs is finalist National University.
Adamson stormed from four set-points down to take two successive set-points of its own. But Ateneo stood its ground down the stretch to grab the frame back.
Nisperos, Vanessa Gandler, AC Miner were firing from cylinders as the Blue Eagles outgunned the Lady Falcons, 23-15, in the second set alone.
“The will of the Lord is irrevocable no matter what happened,” said a relieved Ateneo coach Oliver Almadro. “And our players stepped up. We get to live another day. Hopefully we can be better than our best every day and in the coming days.”