Team effort anchors Adamson in victory

c/o UAAP Media Team

Games Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

9 a.m. - NU vs DLSU (Men)
11 a.m. - FEU vs UST (Men)
1 p.m. - FEU vs UST (Women)
5 p.m. - NU vs DLSU (Women)

ADAMSON University overcame a flat start in the third set to secure a 25-20, 25-12, 25-21 victory over University of the East, and snap a four-game losing streak to kick off their UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament second-round campaign on Saturday afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The trio of Shaina Nitura, Mayang Nuique, and Barbie Jamili led the Lady Falcons to a much-needed win, improving their record to 3-5 and breaking a previous tie with the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles. As of publishing, Ateneo was set to face the University of the Philippines in the final match of Saturday’s quadruple-header.

The win also asserted Adamson’s dominance over UE, who they defeated in the first round with a 25-20, 25-15, 25-12 decision last February 26.

“Sabi ko sa kanila, we’ll continue to motivate and encourage them. Kailangan yung sa second round kasi, maraming bundok yung kailangan iahon kasi mahirap na ‘eh. Pero sabi ko nga sa kanila, we’ll take it one game at a time. Focus tayo sa kada kalaban para mapagaralan nang maayos and kahit mahirap, walang imposible,” Lady Falcons head coach JP Yude said.

("I told them that we’ll continue to motivate and encourage them. In the second round, there are many mountains to climb because it’s getting tougher. But as I said, we’ll take it one game at a time. We need to focus on each opponent to study them properly, and even though it’s difficult, nothing is impossible.")

UE started strong in the third set, building a 16-12 lead, but Adamson responded with six straight points—highlighted by two Nuique quick attacks and a Jen Villegas ace—to reclaim an 18-16 advantage.

Beatrice Zamudio fueled the Lady Warriors’ final push, tying the set at 19-all, but clutch plays from Eloi Dote, Red Bascon, and Nitura sealed the Lady Falcons’ first win in five games.

Building on the momentum of a narrow first-set escape, Adamson dominated the second frame, racing to a 17-7 lead and never looking back to secure a commanding 2-0 set advantage.

Tied at 20-all in the opening set, Adamson displayed remarkable composure, scoring five straight points—capitalizing on back-to-back attack errors by Lauritz Ginoo and Van Bangayan, followed by three consecutive points from Bascon—to take the early lead.

“We really learned a lot sa mga nangyari [nung first round] kasi crucial yung games namin, nananalo kami sa sets, pero hindi binibigay sa amin yung panalo. From there, doon kami nagle-learn at para mas maging eager kami ngayong second round na hindi lang dapat sets kinukuha namin, kung kaya kumuha ng panalo, kumuha ng panalo,” Nitura said.

("We really learned a lot from what happened [in the first round] because our games were crucial—we were winning sets, but the victories weren’t going our way. From there, we learned and became more eager in the second round, knowing that it’s not just about winning sets. If we have the chance to win the game, we have to go for the win.")

Coming off a historic 38-point explosion against UP last Sunday, Nitura top-scored with 18 points on 17 attacks and one block to go along with five excellent digs, while Nuique had 11 points on eight attacks, two aces, and one block.

Barbie Jamili tallied nine points on seven attacks and two aces with nine excellent digs, while Villegas chipped in eight points on three attacks, three blocks, and three aces.

Fhei Sagaysay dished out 14 excellent sets, while Juris Manuel tallied nine excellent receptions and eight excellent digs.

The Lady Falcons will next face the Blue Eagles come Saturday, March 29, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

On the other hand, the loss sent the Lady Warriors to their eighth consecutive defeat in as many games.

Khy Cepada continued her scoring struggling but was still the lone UE player in double digits with 10 points to go along with six excellent digs, while Bangayan was limited to eight points on 8-of-38 attack clip with six excellent digs and six excellent receptions.

Riza Nogales contributed eight points on five blocks and three aces in the losing effort.   Nogales  had four blocks alone in the first set where the Recto-based side was very much in the game.

The Lady Warriors aim to achieve a breakthrough win against Far Eastern University on Wednesday, March 26, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.