The Adamson Lady Falcons survived the University of the East Lady Warriors, 19-25, 25-11, 16-25, 25-16, 15-12, to snap their two-game skid in the UAAP Season 80 women's volleyball tournament Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
"We've battled a lot of adversity. We knew coming into this game that UE has the confidence. I'm pretty sure that they expected to beat us," Adamson head coach Air Padda said after avenging their first round loss to UE with a tough five-setter win.
With rookie Chiara Permentilla out with a left ankle sprain, the veteran players stepped up and delivered the goods for the Lady Falcons.
Team captain Jema Galanza led the charge with a triple-double of 23 points (18 spikes, three aces, one block), 22 digs, and 11 excellent receptions. Mylene Paat produced 18 points, including the match-clinching hit, while Eli Soyud and Joy Dacoron added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The Lady Falcons surged to 8-4 in Set 5 and managed to stay on top despite UE's persistent threats to close the gap. The Lady Warriors shot themselves in the foot with crucial errors, paving the way for Galanza and Paat to close out the match with back-to-back attacks.
"I thought the team did a good job fighting, especially in the fifth set, not letting UE go on point runs and keeping the lead," Padda said.
After an error-prone first set, the Lady Falcons rebounded in the second frame with a 25-11 dominant win. UE, however, came out strong in Set 3 to regain control. With their backs against the wall, the San Marcelino-based squad brought back the momentum on their side in the last two periods to seal the victory.
Mary Ann Mendrez top-scored for the Lady Warriors with 17 points in the loss. Kath Arado, despite hurting her right ankle in the second set, impressively anchored the defense with 32 digs and 23 excellent receptions.
Adamson improved to 4-5 (5th place), while UE fell to 2-7 (8th place).
In the second game, the De La Salle Lady Spikers tightened their grip on the number one spot after taking down the FEU Tamaraws, 25-17, 21-25, 16-25, 25-20, 15-5.
The Lady Spikers notched their fourth straight victory for an 8-2 record and secured at least a playoff for a Final Four berth.
FEU sent La Salle reeling in the second and third sets, but the defending champions made the appropriate adjustments in the final two periods to secure the win.
"Our mindset coming into the fifth set is we should take the lead early. FEU is very aggressive when it's a close game, so our game plan was to stay ahead of them," said Kianna Dy, who made crucial hits in the decider en route to 18 points.
The Lady Spikers generated five unanswered points to open Set 5. Ced Domingo put FEU on the scoreboard with a kill block, then Gel Cayuna followed it up with a service ace. The Lady Tamaraws inched within two at 3-5, but that was the closest that they reached.
La Salle scored at will in the next plays, with veterans Dy and Majoy Baron spearheading the offense. They capped off the match with a huge 10-2 run that left FEU scrambling.
Baron dropped 18 points built on ten spikes, five aces, and three blocks. Des Cheng also had a productive night with 10 points, 16 digs, and 10 receptions.
"We just took the responsibility needed in the 5th set and our character showed," the reigning MVP said.
Bernadeth Pons paced FEU with 16 points and 12 receptions in the loss that dropped them to 6-4, tied with NU in the third slot.