By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
Adamson University extended its unbeaten streak to at eight in the UAAP Season 88 High School Girls’ Volleyball Tournament with a 25-18, 25-17, 24-26, 25-19 victory over University of Santo Tomas on Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym in Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
After dropping the third set, the Lady Baby Falcons quickly regrouped in the fourth.
A pair of clean kills from Francheska Adem and a UST error gave them breathing room at 11-6, and they never looked back. The España side could not overcome its miscues, falling further behind as Adamson extended its lead to 21-14 en route to the win.
An Ellaine Gonzalvo hit later brought Adamson to match point, but UST mounted one last push. The team capitalized on two Adamson errors before Mishka Estrada’s block and Lianna Sanchez’s ace trimmed the gap to 24-19.
The late rally, however, ran out of steam, as Seanne Ordonio’s attack sealed the Lady Baby Falcons’ victory.
“I always remind them na we stay humble, we stay grounded pa rin. And kailangan focus and lock in pa rin tayo because nga, sabi ko sa kanila ay all of the teams gusto tayong talunin because wala pa tayong talo for this [coming] second round,” said Adamson head coach JP Yude.
“Mentally, ‘yung mga bata may pressure na eh… Maraming worries kasi unbeaten nga, paano kung matalo kami, ganito, ganyan. Pero sabi ko naman sa kanila, walang problema matalo,” the concurrent Lady Falcons head coach added.
“Sabi ko, kung anong will ng Panginoon, matalo man tayo, basta trabahuhin na natin ng todo. Nire-remind ko lang talaga sila na kailangan maging mentally tough sila during this moment kasi medyo madugo na ngayong second round.”
Adem delivered an all-around performance with 18 points, built on 14 attacks, three blocks, and seven digs, while Gonzalvo contributed 15 points purely from attacks.
On defense, libero Maegan Pineda proved reliable with 23 excellent digs, as Elaine Garces orchestrated the offense with 23 precise sets.
UST dropped to a tie with Far Eastern University-Diliman at fourth with 4-4 slates.
The team saw balanced scoring from Ryzel Laag, Andreaj Tan Chun Bing, and Erin Sotto, who each tallied seven points. Chasliey Pepito anchored the defense with 15 excellent digs.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Defending champion National University–Nazareth School returned to the win column after its first defeat, dispatching Far Eastern University–Diliman in straight sets, 25-23, 25-18, 25-21, to remain at solo second at 7-1.
The Lady Baby Tamaraws briefly held a 10-7 lead in the third set following a five-point run highlighted by back-to-back hits from Aleah Devosora. Momentum soon shifted, however, as the Lady Bullpups strung together four consecutive points — thanks to FEU-D’s miscues, an ace from Diza Berayo, and a clever tip by Adeleine Agustin — to reclaim the lead at 15-14.
The set remained tight, with both squads exchanging points until a 21-all deadlock. The Lady Bullpups then rattled off five straight points, with an FEU-D attack error putting them at match point before Berayo’s quick tip sealed the victory.
Jhaynna Bulandres led NUNS with 14 points on 10 attacks and three aces, while Akeyla Bartolabac added eight points from seven kills. Berayo, Agustin, and Ysabella Cruz provided steady support with seven points apiece in the one-hour-and-17-minute bout.
For FEU-D, MJ Udeagbala stood out with 16 points from 14 attacks and two blocks.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, University of the Philippines Integrated School ended its four-match losing streak with a 25-18, 25-15, 25-23 sweep of University of the East.
Nina Abad led the Junior Fighting Maroons, scoring all 13 of her points from attacks, while Elisha Capus contributed 10 points, also from spikes, in the one-hour, 11-minute match.
Janella Mangahis paced the Junior Lady Warriors with eight points, all from attacks.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Earlier, De La Salle Zobel secured its second straight victory, defeating Ateneo de Manila University, 25-23, 25-14, 25-15.
Zeianne Laborte led the Junior Lady Spikers with 12 points from nine attacks, while Samarah Marzan added eight points from six attacks in the 67-minute matchup.
For the Blue Eagles, Jelena Dait scored 13 points on 10 attacks, including three aces.
DLSZ improved to 5-3, holding solo third while UPIS went up to 3-5 for sixth place.
Ateneo fell to 1-7 in seventh place while UE remained winless after eight games.
