Adamson wins game 1 in V-league’s final series, nears 2nd title
MANILA, Philippines–Adamson put up another strong defensive effort as the Lady Falcons hacked out a thrilling 25-13, 25-17, 30-32, 21-25, 15-13 triumph over San Sebastian-Excelroof Thursday night to move on the brink of a second title in the Shakey’s V-League Season 7 Second Conference at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Michelle Laborte, Nerissa Bautista and Angela Benting combined for 65 points as the Lady Falcons mastered the Lady Stags for the third time in five meetings so far.
The Lady Falcons rallied from two sets down and wiped out a five-point SanSebastian advantage in the fifth set before Benting and Bautista delivered the last two hits to seal Game 1 of the best-of-three championship series in a little under two hours.
It was also the Lady Falcons’ 11th straight victory in the tournament.
“I just had full confidence in my team that we were not going to lose,” said Adamson coach Dulce Pante, whose squad can wrap up the series and their second crown after their Season 5 First Conference title with a victory on Sunday.
San Sebastian rode the momentum of its stirring third-set win to the fourth, extending the match into a deciding game, where the Lady Stags grabbed an early 5-3 lead.
But the Lady Falcons scored heavily on Bautista’s serve to seize control, 12-7, after Pau Soriano’s kill at the center.
Back-to-back errors by Adamson setter Des Patilano and three straight points from Joy Benito tied the game at 13 but Benting and Bautista put an end to the resistance.
Bautista had 22 points while Benting, flashing a well-rounded game that included a solid floor defense, finished with 21.
Earlier, Lyceum made light work of Far Eastern U, 25-18, 25-19, 25-20, to take a 1-0 lead in their own best-of-three series for third place.
Mary Jean Balse continued her stellar form, finishing with 25 points, while Dahlia Cruz contributed 13 for the Lady Pirates.
