Adamson Lady Falcons.–SSL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Adamson and University of Santo Tomas remained unbeaten in their respective groups after trouncing separate foes to advance to the next round in the 2023 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-Season Championship Season 2 on Monday at Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Lady Falcons banked on the troika of Lucille Almonte, Red Bascon, and transferee Barbie Jamili, who scored seven points each, to eliminate the Lyceum Lady Pirates, 25-16, 25-16, 25-13, and clinch the top spot in Pool B.
Besides the trio of Almonte, Bascon, and Jamili, middle blockers Lorene Toring and Sharrya Ancheta were also instrumental combining for 11 points as all Lady Falcons but the liberos scored at least a point.
“It’s a good start for us, at the same time, our new players are also getting experience that they can bring in the coming [UAAP] season,” said Adamson coach JP Yude in Filipino. “But we can still see our lapses. We have to develop our young team and blend our chemistry and show their maturity because after this round we will be facing stronger opponents.”
Adamson’s win also gave way to the qualification of Arellano, which won two of its three matches in Pool B, as Lyceum bombed out of contention with a 1-2 record, losing in just 68 minutes.
The Lady Falcons, who settled for a runner-up finish in the National Invitationals after losing to the De La Salle Lady Spikers in the finals series, seek to sweep their group against the winless San Beda Lady Red Spikers (0-2) on Sunday next week.
UST’s Jonna Perdido.–SSL PHOTO
Meanwhile, UST completed a three-game Pool C sweep after frustrating the reigning NCAA champion College of Saint Benilde, 25-13, 22-25, 25-12, 25-22.
Jonna Perdido lifted the Golden Tigresses to move on to the next round with a 3-0 record as she poured in 20 points — all coming from attacks. Regina Jurado delivered 19 points, while incoming rookie Angeline Poyos sustained her fine form with 17 points.
“We still have a lot of room for improvement. We have to be more consistent entering the second round,” said UST coach KungFu Reyes in Filipino.
St. Benilde, which relied on Gayle Pascual’s 13 points, dropped to a 1-1 record in Pool C and will fight for contention in a crucial match against University of Perpetual Help on Saturday next week.
Perpetual Help stayed in contention with a 1-1 record after Shaila Omipon dropped 11 points including a pair of aces to send Letran to a winless three-game campaign, 25-9, 25-17, 25-17.
Defending champion National University, which won back-to-back games in the weekend, advanced to the second round with a 2-0 record in Pool A. Far Eastern University, unbeaten in two games in Pool D, also qualified for the next round starting on October 14 at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Adamson coach Yude believes NU and UST will be their biggest hurdles this preseason tournament.
“NU and UST [are the biggest hurdles this tournament]. UST is also strong despite being a young team. But I told my players we can make it, by God’s Grace and God’s will, as long as we exert our all-out effort every time,” he said.
Mapua refused to have a winless Pool D campaign after sending Emilio Aguinaldo College to its second defeat, 25-19, 29-27, 25-11.
Hannah De Guzman led the Lady Cardinals to their first win with 12 points but their fate is already out of their hands with a 1-2 record as their contention lies in the last two games of Ateneo (1-0), which will face FEU on Saturday and EAC on Sunday next week.