In a crucial tiff for a spot in the next round, it was the Adamson University Soaring Falcons who emerged with the win, outlasting the College of Saint Benilde Blazers in four sets, 25-16, 18-25, 25-20, 31-29, and secured their place in the Final Four of the 2018 Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference, Saturday afternoon at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Wing spikers did the job for the San Marcelino-based squad, as outside hitter Leo Miranda paced the squad with 18 points off 16 attacks and two blocks. Not to be outdone, opposite hitter George Labang and team captain Paolo Pablico added in 17 and 16 markers, respectively.
After pulling off a convincing win in the opening set, the Falcons squandered the following frame off several miscues on the reception. The Blazers capitalized on their errors and breezed through the set to level the match at one apiece.
Adamson assistant coach Daniel Miranda rued this fact and emphasized that it had almost cost them the game, the same way it had doomed them to back-to-back losses after winning four straight. “Andun talaga yung mga attitude ng players na andun na, biglang nagre-relax,” he said.
“Yung killer instinct wala. Dapat tuluy-tuloy lang hanggang matapos,” he pointed out.
Nonetheless, the experience of the UAAP side won out in the end and secured them passage into the following round, as Labang and Pablico steered them to the victory.
The Falcons end at 6-3 to secure the third spot, while the Blazers will take on tomorrow’s winner of the University of the Philippines and Far Eastern University match in a playoff for the other semifinals berth.
The Scores:
AdU 3 – Miranda 18, Labang 17, Pablico 16, Alicando 11, Alvarez 6, Amburgo 1, Nuguid 0, Jimenez 0, Pinar L.
CSB 1 – Abrot 20, Adviento 15, De Sequera 13, Basilan 7, Bacani 6, Magsino 1, Almonte 0, Bautista 0, Rojas 0, Dy L, Dumaran L.
