By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
National University-Nazareth School moved within one win of securing a Final Four berth in the UAAP Season 89 High School Girls’ Volleyball Tournament after sweeping De La Salle Zobel, 25-15, 25-16, 25-16, on Tuesday at the Paco Arena Events and Sports Center in Manila.
The defending champions stretched their winning streak to nine matches behind Jai Adrao’s 15 points on 11 attacks, two blocks, and two aces. Jhaynna Bulandres added 14 points on 10 attacks, three aces, and a block.
“’Yun ‘yung tingin ko, na kailangan namin na meron pa kaming ipakita. Kailangan pang mas maging malinis ‘yung galaw namin lalo na sa mga Final Four teams siguro kasi round two pa lang. Nine games pa lang naman so hindi namin kailangan maging complacent,” said Lady Bullpups head coach Karl Dimaculangan.
“Habang tumatagal, siguro nakikita ko lalo ‘yung teamwork and ‘yung pagiging buo ng team so far. So mas kailangan naming maging bonded sa mga paparating na pagsubok or games pa namin,” he added.
NUNS overwhelmed DLSZ with a 19-4 scoring surge in the third set, stifling the Junior Lady Spikers’ offense and capitalizing on their errors. DLSZ mounted a late 4-1 run, but Adrao’s block brought the Lady Bullpups to match point. Aislinn Alemaña briefly extended the match with a kill before Kean Cabañog sealed the sweep with an attack.
Micaella Gould orchestrated the Lady Bullpups’ offense with 11 excellent sets while contributing four points, while Ghenievib Belen shored up the defense with 10 excellent digs in the 61-minute match.
DLSZ, meanwhile, slipped to a 4-5 record in fifth place, falling further behind in the race for the last Final Four berth. Alemaña led the Junior Lady Spikers with eight points, all from attacks.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Earlier, the University of Santo Tomas returned to the win column with a 25-15, 25-16, 25-18 sweep of Ateneo de Manila University to remain in second place with a 7-2 record.
Adamson University also rediscovered its winning form with a 25-21, 25-10, 25-14 sweep of University of the Philippines Integrated School. The Baby Falcons joined Far Eastern University-Diliman, which defeated the University of the East, 25-5, 25-16, 25-10, in third place.
Adamson and FEU-D now share identical 6-3 records, two games ahead of the fifth-placed Junior Lady Spikers.
UST and Ateneo traded points for much of the third set before the España-based squad pulled away with five unanswered points, fueled by attacks from Ryza Sespeñe, Erin Sotto, Megan Hernandez, and Taj Teves. Teves’ kill brought the Junior Golden Tigresses to match point. Ryann Espinosa briefly kept Ateneo in the match with a block, but Teves responded with an attack through the block to seal the victory.
Anneli Manzanillo led the Junior Golden Tigresses with 11 points on seven kills and four blocks. Nicole Pelaez added 10 points, while Hernandez chipped in eight.
Lianne Sanchez directed the offense with 10 excellent sets in the 63-minute match.
Naihma Banal topscored for Ateneo with 10 points on eight attacks and two aces as the Blue Eagles fell to a 3-6 record and remained in sixth place.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
FEU-D, meanwhile, cruised through the third set against UE, limiting the Junior Lady Warriors to just 10 points before closing out the match with a five-point run. An attack error by Majara Ocampo brought the Lady Baby Tamaraws to match point before Glejane Loreño capped the victory with a kill.
Alexa Amana led FEU-D with 14 points on 11 attacks, two aces, and a block, while MJ Udeagbala contributed 12 markers on seven attacks and five aces.
Charlene Balandra tallied 13 excellent sets, while libero Querstine Paragas added 10 excellent digs in the 54-minute match.
The Junior Lady Warriors remained winless after nine games.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
In Adamson’s victory, Ellaine Gonzalvo delivered 22 points on 16 kills, five aces, and a block, while Jennica Misajon added 11 points for the Baby Falcons.
Elaine Garces and Alexa Katigbak shared playmaking duties with eight excellent sets apiece, while Zianthal Alday and Jayrelle Mesa contributed nine excellent digs and four excellent receptions each.
Niña Abad paced UPIS with 10 points on eight attacks and two aces in the 62-minute match as the Junior Fighting Maroons absorbed their eighth straight loss to remain in seventh place with a 1-8 record.
