Karen Verdeflor and the Adamson Lady Falcons in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament. — MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Adamson coach JP Yude calmly huddled his players and blurted out a motivational speech in the face of another disastrous outing.
Down two sets and trailing by six points, the Lady Falcons obligingly responded and turned back University of the Philippines, 25-17, 23-25, 20-25, 25-23, 15-13, on Saturday night at the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.
Karen Verdeflor cried tears of joy after Jen Villegas blocked UP’s final counterattack at match point that preserved her gallant defensive stance of 25 excellent digs and 15 receptions.
“We haven’t won for a long time and this victory just made me emotional,’’ said Verdeflor after the Lady Falcons snapped a forgettable streak of six losses that pushed them out of the semifinal race.
SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball second round
Rookie Barbie Jamili fired 16 points and backstopped Verdeflor with 14 receptions and 11 digs while May Nuique added 15 points built on 11 attacks plus an ace as they snatched the win, Adamson’s third in 11 games.
“I told them not to stop fighting. It’s not impossible if they really wanted to win. Their character, composure and attitude on the floor helped us overcome the odds,’’ said Yude.
They’ll be facing defending champion La Salle and title contender National University in their succeeding games before wrapping up the season against Ateneo.
“We don’t stand a chance at advancing to the Final Four anymore. We’ll just give our best in these remaining games for a decent exit,’’ said Nuique. “After all, we’ve got nothing more to lose.’’
With only pride at stake, the Lady Maroons were unable to pull it off a near triumph and absorbed their 11th defeat in 12 games.
READ: UAAP: UST wards off Adamson behind Poyos’ career-best, bags Final 4 slot
Nina Ytang delivered 17 points and registered seven of the UP’s 16 blocks while Joan Monares posted a career-high 16 points highlighted by 14 attacks and had 13 receptions.
Brimming with confidence at the start, the Lady Falcons jumped off carrying the pace that they wanted and immediately controlled the opening set.
After Villegas sneaked in a push, it didn’t help that Monares committed a service blunder and Ytang had an attack error that installed Adamson eight points ahead.
Angelica Alcantara benefited from a one-two play followed by another Villegas assault to the back row as the Lady Falcons gained headway entering the second set.
The Lady Maroons then leveled the field with Monares and Ytang contributing heavily in reversing the trend aided by several Adamson errors.
Ytang’s off-speed spike moved them within a point of completing the set before Jamili practically handed it to UP with an attack error.
They sustained the fightback they mounted and claimed the third set as well on a marvelous defensive stance at the net and an assortment of attacks.
Monares’ variety of strikes gave the Lady Maroons an eight-point cushion followed by twin hits by Jewel Encarnacion and Nikha Cabasac that halted Adamson’s brief rally. Encarnacion’s spike at the back row ended the set.
The Lady Falcons clawed back in the fourth after climbing from six points down midway in the set with big help courtesy of UP’s maze of errors.
Nuique blocked Stephanie Bustrillo on two occasions and with Ayesha Juegos finding an empty corner of her attack, Adamson finally took a 24-23 lead.
Jamili then walloped it between two defenders at set point, stretching the match to the limit.
Any team could have sealed the fifth set, but the Lady Falcons were lucky enough to snatch the win.
After Ytang tied the match one last time at 13 with a block, UP team captain Abi Goc saw her serve get entangled at the net, allowing Adamson to move to the threshold.
Irah Jaboneta’s last-ditch effort to keep the Lady Maroons alive ended in frustration after Villegas blocked her attack, completing the stunning turnaround by the Falcons.