By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
REIGNING champion National University-Nazareth School and Adamson University strengthened their Final Four bids after scoring victories over separate opponents in the UAAP Season 88 High School Girls’ Volleyball Tournament on Tuesday at the Paco Arena in Manila.
NUNS made quick work of the University of the Philippines Integrated School, 25-15, 25-12, 25-15, in a swift 62-minute sweep to secure solo second place.
Adamson, meanwhile, showed no signs of slowing down as it overpowered De La Salle-Zobel, 25-17, 25-20, 25-18, to remain unbeaten with a league-best 9-0 record.
The Lady Bullpups seized control midway through the third set, turning a slim 12-9 lead into a 19-9 cushion behind a seven-point surge fueled by Akeyla Bartolabac’s consecutive attacks and UPIS errors.
A service error momentarily halted their run, but NUNS quickly regained rhythm with two straight aces and a Princess Manzano spike. Jhaynna Bulandres’ attack brought the Lady Bullpups to match point, and after a brief three-point rally from the Junior Fighting Maroons, Bartolabac sealed the deal with the final kill.
With several players fresh off national team duty at this year’s Asian Youth Games—including Micaella Gould, Rain Navarro, Ysabella Cruz, Adeleine Agustin, Atasha Doroja, and Diza Berayo—head coach Karl Dimaculangan admitted that his team is still finding its rhythm.
“After kasi nung [Asian Youth Games], dumating lang kami last week so di pa ganun nakaka-adjust siguro, feeling ko and ‘yung pagod from doon sa Bahrain,” said Dimaculangan, who also handled the Alas Pilipinas U18 squad in the same tournament.
“‘Yung recovery namin isa-isa is crucial and mindset naman namin, alam naman namin na ‘yung kalaban namin talaga mabibigat. Buti naka-survive na kami these [past] two games pero ‘yung mga susunod pa, kailangan naming paghandaan mabuti.”
Agustin led NUNS with 10 points on eight kills and two blocks in just two sets, while Berayo, Bartolabac, and Cruz chipped in seven points apiece. Navarro orchestrated the offense with 14 excellent sets and added two aces.
The Junior Fighting Maroons fell to sixth with a 3-6 card.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
In another match, Adamson and La Salle-Zobel went toe-to-toe early in the third set, with neither side leading by more than two points.
But timely hits from Janna Dizon, Janessa Buhay, and Ellaine Gonzalvo pushed the Lady Baby Falcons ahead, 19-15. Gonzalvo then ignited a four-point run capped by a Dizon ace and two DLSZ errors to widen the gap to 23-16.
After a service error by Sofia Inandan brought Adamson to match point, Kylie Celada momentarily extended the set with a sharp kill, but Gonzalvo finished the match with a tip off the block.
Gonzalvo once again served as Adamson’s offensive anchor, scoring 12 kills along with five digs and seven excellent receptions for 14 points. Dizon and Fracheska Adem added 10 points each in the 66-minute match.
Elaine Garces tallied 12 excellent sets to go with three aces and a block, while Maegan Pineda anchored the defense with 13 digs.
Despite seven points apiece from Aislinn Alemaña and Celada, the Junior Lady Spikers slipped to 5-4.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas rediscovered its winning form with a dominant sweep of Ateneo de Manila University, 25-12, 25-12, 25-11.
Mishka Estrada powered UST’s balanced attack with 12 points built on five kills, five aces, and two blocks, while Taj Teves, Rochelle Olaguir, and Ryzel Laag added seven points each in the 59-minute rout.
The Junior Golden Tigresses improved to 5-4, while the Blue Eagles dropped to 1-8 in seventh place.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Earlier, Far Eastern University-Diliman withstood a late rally from University of the East in the third set to secure a 25-10, 25-16, 26-24 win, keeping pace with UST and DLSZ for third place.
The Lady Baby Tamaraws leaned on Alexa Amana’s all-around performance as she delivered 12 points built on eight aces and four attacks, while Aiumi Oso chipped in 11 from eight kills and three aces in the 59-minute match.
Charlene Balandra steered the offense with 11 excellent sets, as Querstine Paragas guarded the backline with 10 excellent digs.
Still searching for their first win, the Junior Lady Warriors suffered their ninth straight loss.
