NUNS, Adamson set up Girls Volleyball rematch

c/o UAAP

Adamson University and National University Nazareth School arranged a third straight UAAP Season 87 High School Girls’ Volleyball Finals showdown following escapes of respective foes on Saturday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Defending champions Baby Falcons needed to dig deep from a 0-2 hole to pull off a reverse sweep against the fourth-ranked University of Santo Tomas Junior Golden Tigresses, 20-25, 18-25, 25-23, 25-18, 15-9, in a match that ended after exactly two hours.

Meanwhile, the Lady Bullpups, the top seeds who are gunning for redemption, turned a 1-2 deficit into a five-set thriller, to book the Finals ticket at the expense of the Far Eastern University-Diliman Lady Baby Tamaraws, 25-18, 21-25, 21-25, 25-16, 18-16, also in two hours of battle.

The battle for this season’s crown starts on Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena, the time of which will be announced by Sunday.

Adamson and NUNS will meet in the Finals for a third straight season with the Lady Bullpups winning in a classic three-game series in Season 85 before the Baby Falcons rules Season 86 via a tournament sweep.

Adamson was swept by  NUNS in the eliminations.

The Lady Bullpups took the first meeting, 16-25, 25-23, 25-20, 23-25, 15-13, on October 2 before bagging the second, 25-21, 25-17, 21-25, 25-17 on October 27.

“In the first place talagang kailangan namin ma-correct ‘yung mga lapses namin. Kailangan mentally rin prepared. Ito ‘yung madudugong sitwasyon na papasok na kami ng Finals.” said the Baby Falcons’ head coach JP Yude.

“But I know, I always trust in the Lord na, I always pray na He will give us the right mindset. A strong mind and a strong heart always kasi, sabi ko nga sa mga bata, huwag kayong maglaro for ourselves, maglaro kayo para sa Panginoon. Kaya hindi pwedeng half-hearted, dapat whole-hearted para ma-glorify niyo Siya,” the former Soaring Falcon added.

Using a strong fightback in the third set, Abi Segui and Sam Cantada, holdovers from last year’s champion team that swept the season, took over the fifth and deciding set, turning a 4-all deadlock into a 12-6 advantage. Segui fired back-to-back service aces before Cantada finished a combination play from the middle.

That initiative from their leaders rubbed off the rest of the team, fuelling an exchange of points. Lhouriz Tuddao eventually sent the Baby Falcons into match point after two aces before Ellaine Gonzalvo detonated with her 21st point of the contest to end the nip-and-tuck battle.

“In-encourage lang po talaga namin sila na, na ‘pag may isang lumalaban, dalawa, o tatlo, kailangang sumama na lahat kasi team effort po talaga ‘to. Collective effort talaga dapat ‘yung gagawin namin. Kailangan po sumama po sila sa ‘min ‘pag lumalaban kami,” said Segui, who also finished with 21 markers, six coming from the service line, to go with 12 digs.

Gonzalvo contributed a match-high 21 points, including two attacks that gave Adamson a comfortable cushion in the fifth, and 10 digs, while Cantada pinched in 15 points and 11 excellent receptions.

Sofia Arasan, who took over Fei Sagaysay’s playmaking duties, tossed 14 excellent sets.

Jhellane Auxtero paced UST with 14 points and 11 digs, while Avril Bron added 11 markers, five coming from blocks. Kim Rubin also finished with 14 points and four excellent receptions.

Meanwhile, in the fifth and final set, the NUNS leaders pulled through in their battle with FEU-D captain Raine Alonzo.

Harlyn Serneche and Deneese Daylisan connived in the decider against Alonzo, who single-handedly lifted the Baby Tamaraws to a 16-all deadlock.

A crucial service error from the FEU-D skipper, though, handed the NUNS Lady Bullpups the match-point before Diza Berayo smartly sent the ball to the open spot at the back of the opponent’s court.

“Expected naman namin na hindi magiging madali ang Final Four kasi lahat ng apat na teams na pumasok is malalakas. I’m happy na ‘yung mga players hindi bumitaw kahit down na kami. Nahirapan man, pero naitawid,” said NUNS head coach Karl Dimaculangan.

Serneche and Berayo both finished with 19 points with the latter adding 12 digs to her production, while Daylisan amassed 11 points.

Alonzo exploded for 26 markers on 23 attacks, as Aleah Devosora had 12 points and six digs and Sheila Pascual ended with nine markers and six excellent receptions.

The Junior Golden Tigresses finished with the bronze, while the Lady Baby Tamaraws settled for fourth.