Adamson Lady Falcons celebrate during a win over UE Lady Warriors in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.–UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Adamson stopped a four-game skid with a 25-20, 25-11, 25-21 domination of hapless University of the East (UE) in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
“I continue to encourage and motivate them na kailangan sa second round, maraming bundok yung kailangan i-ahon kasi mahirap na eh,” UE coach JP Yude said.
“Pero sabi ko nga sa kanila we take it one game at a time lang so focus tayo sa kada kalaban so that napag-aaralan natin nang maayos at kahit mahirap, walang imposible kung tatrabahuhin natin.”
READ: UAAP: Rookie Shaina Nitura sets scoring record in Adamson loss
Rookie ace Shaina Nitura went to work as usual with 18 points to lift the Lady Falcons to a 3-5 record.
“We really learned a lot [in the first round] kasi grabe ka-crucial nung mga games namin. Nananalo kami ng sets pero hindi talaga binibigay samin yung panalo,” Nitura said. “From there dun kami nagle-learn, mas maging eager kami for second round na hindi lang dapat sets yung kinukuha namin dapat kung kaya kumuha ng panalo, kumuha ng panalo.”
“Lalo na sobrang crucial na nga ng second round kasi dun na malalaman kung sino yung pasok for Final Four so ang gagawin lang talaga namin is push harder than we did nung first round then let’s see kung ano yung kakalabasan,” she added.
May Nuique helped with 11 points spread out from eight attacks, a pair of aces and a block thanks to Fhei Sagaysay’s 14 excellent sets.
The Lady Warriors, who suffered an eighth straight loss in as many games, threatened to take the third frame by leading early until 13-16 courtesy of Riza Nogales’ quick hit.
READ: UAAP: UP survives Shaina Nitura’s record performance, Adamson
The Falcons churned out a 4-0 run to take the lead even as UE tried to salvage what it squandered until another run by Adamson put it ahead, 23-19.
Khy Cepada scored two of the Warriors’ team-high 10 points down the stretch but it was already too late as Red Bascon scored off a block and Nitura hammered in a sharp cross-court kill to end the match.
Aside from Cepada, no other Warrior crossed to twin digits. Angelica Reyes tried her best on the defensive end but her 20 excellent digs went down the drain.
Adamson continues its trek to secure a semifinal spot facing Ateneo, which is battling University of the Philippines as of posting, next Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
UE resumes its search for a breakthrough win this season opposite Far Eastern University on Wednesday at Filoil EcoOil Centre.