Kate Santiago. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Adamson nearly dropped a set out of neglect before vanquishing Ateneo, 25-23, 25-17, 26-24, to solidify its hold of second place in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Kate Santiago powered the Lady Falcons with 18 points, highlighted by 15 attacks, on top of nine digs and three aces while Trisha Tubu collected 17 points with the same quantity of attacks plus two blocks as they notched a third straight win, their seventh out of nine games.
“I was off during last game, so I focused more on my offense,” said Santiago, whose efforts proved pivotal in the first two sets.
Aprylle Tagsip was a revelation for the Lady Falcons, chipping in seven points and a block, but did critical damage every time the Blue Eagles waged an effort to spring back.
“She (Tagsip) delivered for us. They weren’t able to scout her because she had limited playing time in the past,” said Adamson coach Jerry Yee, whose crew repeated over the Blue Eagles this season.
Adamson’s Aprylle Tagsip (13). UAAP PHOTO
It was the first time in the last 15 years that the Lady Falcons swept Ateneo in their elimination-round face-off.
Barely surviving Ateneo’s claws in the first set, Adamson put its game face on in a determined bid to shoot down their foes swiftly.
They were able to achieve the goal when Tubu’s back-to-back hits pushed Adamson way ahead, 18-12, in the second set before Tagsip joined the fray, scoring three of her team’s last four points punctuated by a thundering down-the-line smash.
With Vanessa Gandler, Alexis Miner and Beautiliza Lomocso joining forces, Ateneo made it interesting in the final set when they rose from eight points down on the carelessness of the Lady Falcons.
Lucille Almonte’s air strike went long, allowing the Blue Eagles to tie the count at 23, but a booming spike by Lorence Toring off a block put the Lady Falcons back on top.
WATCH: Kate Santiago and Adamson coach Jerry Yee after sweeping Ateneo. #UAAPSeason85 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/twy2uFa6oD
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“I just told them not to be pressured and just execute properly,” said Yee after calling a timeout following Ateneo’s climb.
Tubu scored on another attack and Almonte made sure her down-the-line kill went in this time as the Lady Falcons sent Ateneo to its sixth defeat in nine games.