Adamson University bucked a slow start before whipping Far Eastern University, taking a 22-25, 25-9, 25-18, 25-18 triumph for its third straight win in the UAAP Season 84 women's volleyball tournament, Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Lucille Almonte led the way for Adamson, who lost its first two games before winning the next three to go up to 3-2, with 17 points to go along with 11 excellent digs while Kate Santiago, who only played in three sets, came up with 14 points.
“Talagang naramdaman namin na gusto rin talagang manalo ng FEU so very aggressive sila,” said Lady Falcons head coach Lerma Giron. “Ang sinabi ko lang sa [players ko], ‘pag hindi natin pinantayan o hinigitan yung aggressiveness ng kabila, talagang ‘di kami mananalo.”
The Lady Falcons took the life out of the Lady Tamaraws and led by as much as 10 points after converting a block in the middle. Julianne Monares came up with back-to-back hits to slice the lead to just six, 16-22, before Trisha Genesis and Lorene Toring put up the finishing touches.
“Malaking factor is yung pasa kasi kahit gaano kagaling yung setter natin and yung mga spikers natin e ang nagsisimula ang first ball talaga sa pasa so I think yun yung nabalik and nag gain ng momentum so ayun, awa ng Diyos nagtuloy tuloy na,” added Giron regarding the team’s turnaround in the first round.
Trisha Genesis chipped in 11 points and seven excellent receptions while May Ann Nique and Rizza Cruz each had 10 markers. Team skipper and setter playmaker Louie Romero tossed 22 excellent sets along with a point
FEU pulled away late in the opening set to take a 1-0 advantage. Adamson then unleashed a 14-3 -- even leading by as much as 15, 24-9 -- to equalize the match before taking a 2-1 lead after the third frame.
Nikka Medina paced the Lady Tamaraws, who dropped to 1-4 in the standings, with 13 points and eight excellent digs while Jean Asis and Monares added 10 and nine points. Chen Tagaod – FEU’s top performer in the past games – was held down to just five.
Adamson will take on University of Santo Tomas on Tuesday at 4:00 PM while FEU will face National University at 6:00 PM. (Dennis Lachica, Sportsmanila Photojournalist)