Manila Bulletin
Sports
Volleyball
Adamson downs UP, books return trip to Final Four after nine years
Sports
Volleyball
Adamson downs UP, books return trip to Final Four after nine years
Adamson downs UP, books return trip to Final Four after nine years
Published Apr 22, 2023 09:16 am
Adamson fended off University of the Philippines (UP), 25-20, 27-25, 23-25, 25-15, to make a return trip to the Final Four in nearly a decade in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on Saturday, April 22, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Lady Falcons needed an extra set to secure the win and bounce back from their loss to top seeded De La Salle Lady Spikers for a 9-4 win-loss record. The victory was enough to earn the second Final Four seat – Adamson’s first since Season 76 in 2014. Lucille Almonte delivered a team-high 13 points on 13 kills, while Trisha Tubu and Loren Toring chipped in 11 points eachfor the Lady Falcons. Adamson untangled themselves from a 20-all deadlock with a 5-0 run to rule the opening set before encountering a fierce rally from UP in the second frame. Leading 19-14, the Lady Falcons saw the Fighting Maroons respond with a 7-1 run to snatch the 21-20 upperhand. But UP couldn’t close that set against the resilient attempts of Adamson, with costly back-to-back errors giving the Lady Falcons the two-set lead. UP regained their composure by showing flashes of brilliance anchored on Jewel Encarnacion to secure the third frame. But it was a different ballgame in the fourth as Adamson quickly dictated the pace with a 19-8 advantage and never looked back. "Medyo naging complacent kami lalo nung third set kaya nakuha. Then nung fourth naka-deliver naman," said Adamson assistant coach Rald Ricafort. Niña Ytang and Encarnacion scored 15 points apiece for UP, which continued to slide further with a 1-11 mark. Steph Bustrillo added 14 points for the Fighting Maroons to no avail.
*The Adamson Lady Falcons book a return trip to the Final Four for the first time in nine years. (UAAP Images)
*The Lady Falcons needed an extra set to secure the win and bounce back from their loss to top seeded De La Salle Lady Spikers for a 9-4 win-loss record. The victory was enough to earn the second Final Four seat – Adamson’s first since Season 76 in 2014. Lucille Almonte delivered a team-high 13 points on 13 kills, while Trisha Tubu and Loren Toring chipped in 11 points eachfor the Lady Falcons. Adamson untangled themselves from a 20-all deadlock with a 5-0 run to rule the opening set before encountering a fierce rally from UP in the second frame. Leading 19-14, the Lady Falcons saw the Fighting Maroons respond with a 7-1 run to snatch the 21-20 upperhand. But UP couldn’t close that set against the resilient attempts of Adamson, with costly back-to-back errors giving the Lady Falcons the two-set lead. UP regained their composure by showing flashes of brilliance anchored on Jewel Encarnacion to secure the third frame. But it was a different ballgame in the fourth as Adamson quickly dictated the pace with a 19-8 advantage and never looked back. "Medyo naging complacent kami lalo nung third set kaya nakuha. Then nung fourth naka-deliver naman," said Adamson assistant coach Rald Ricafort. Niña Ytang and Encarnacion scored 15 points apiece for UP, which continued to slide further with a 1-11 mark. Steph Bustrillo added 14 points for the Fighting Maroons to no avail.