By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
DEFENDING champion Adamson University secured the remaining twice-to-beat advantage in the UAAP Season 87 High School Girls’ Volleyball Final Four, defeating Far Eastern University-Diliman in four sets, 18-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-20, on Wednesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Baby Falcons’ victory, coupled with the University of Santo Tomas Junior Golden Tigresses’ 25-21, 25-10, 18-25, 16-25, 15-7 loss to the top-seeded National University Nazareth School Lady Bullpups earlier in the day, earned Adamson the second seed with a 9-3 record at the end of the elimination round.
The Tigresses secured the third seed due to a superior set ratio over the Lady Baby Tamaraws, 1.938-1.800.
“I really appreciate the efforts din ng mga bata pati ng mga coaches also on how they work hard, on how they play hard and ‘yung willingness talaga nila na manalo para makuha namin ‘yung twice-to-beat advantage,” said Baby Falcons head coach JP Yude.
Adamson, riding a four-game winning streak, will face UST in the Final Four, while NUNS, which concluded the elimination round with an 11-game winning streak for an 11-1 record, takes on FEU-D in the other semifinal matchup. The schedule for the Final Four is yet to be announced.
Adamson had to dig deep to secure the crucial playoff advantage.
In the fourth set, the Baby Falcons pulled ahead with a 3-0 run powered by attacks from Sam Cantada and Lhouriz Tuddao, capped by a clever tip from Sofia Arasan, giving them a 16-11 lead.
FEU-D mounted a counterattack with a three-point surge, closing the gap to one point, but Adamson responded with a decisive five-point rally. Janna Dizon’s timely push brought the Baby Falcons to match point.
Franz Premaylon kept the Lady Baby Tamaraws’ hopes alive with a strong attack, but a service error on the next play handed Adamson the victory.
“Nag-adjust kami [after the first set],” said Yude. “Then ni-remind ko lang sila na ‘wag tayo sumabay sa pacing ng FEU kasi mabilis ‘yung set, so sabi ko, dalhin natin sila sa pacing natin, sabi kong ganun. And then maging consistent lang tayo sa pasa and then sa service natin.”
Abby Segui led the Baby Falcons with 19 points, featuring 14 attacks and four blocks, alongside seven digs.
Cantada delivered an 18-point performance, while Ellaine Gonzalvo chipped in 14 points, 12 digs, and four receptions.
Arasan contributed 12 excellent sets to maintain Adamson’s rhythm.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
On the FEU side, Aleah Devosora paced her team with 15 points, while Sheila Pascual added 14. Libero Atasha Doroja anchored their defense with 23 digs and nine receptions.
Earlier in the day, NUNS extended its winning streak with a five-set triumph over UST.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
The Lady Bullpups capitalized on a string of errors from the Junior Golden Tigresses to build a 10-6 advantage in the final set.
NUNS tightened its grip on the match with a dominant closing stretch, scoring the last five points.
Jenelyn Jacob’s clutch block set up match point, and Rihanna Navarro delivered the finishing touch with an ace to seal the victory.
Lady Bullpups star Den Daylisan erupted for 20 points on 16 attacks and three blocks in the tightly contested match that lasted one hour and 52 minutes.
Akeyla Bartolabac and Diza Berayo added 17 and 16 points, respectively.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
UST’s Rochelle Olagur scored 11 points, while Reeza Abayon and Avril Bron contributed nine and six points, respectively. Kim Rubin, limited to partial action, was held to just two points.
In another match, De La Salle Zobel closed its season with a dominant straight-sets victory over Ateneo de Manila University, 25-15, 25-11, 25-17.
Junior Lady Spikers’ standout Kylie Celada tallied 14 points on seven attacks, six aces, and a block as the match concluded in just 59 minutes.
Aislinn Alemaña and Marga Tañada chipped in five points each.
Althea Ramos led the Blue Eagles with five points.
DLSZ finished in sixth place with a 4-8 record, while Ateneo ended its campaign winless in 12 games.
