By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
Defending champion National University–Nazareth School clinched a Final Four berth, while Adamson University became the first team to secure a twice-to-beat bonus in the UAAP Season 88 High School Girls’ Volleyball Tournament after key victories on Wednesday at the Paco Arena in Manila.
NUNS defeated De La Salle Zobel in four sets, 25-13, 25-18, 22-25, 25-17, to stay solo second at 10-1.
The Bullpups also extended their streak of reaching the Final Four to 10 seasons since the format was introduced in high school volleyball back in Season 77 (2014).
“This time kasi, sobrang daming tournament aside from UAAP na magkakasabay, so ‘yung recovery and ‘yung preparation siguro ‘yung pinaka-crucial for us. Kaya ngayon, ito na ulit, focus ulit pero may Manila Meet pa,” said head coach Karl Dimaculangan on NUNS’ Final Four run amid a busy season schedule.
“As much as possible tina-try namin na maging composed pa rin kami despite ‘yung mga na-encounter namin o pinagdadaanan namin ngayon. Pero so far naman, at least nandun pa rin kami and ready pa rin kami na i-defend pa rin ‘yung championship.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, the undefeated Lady Baby Falcons cruised to a 25-12, 25-10, 25-16 victory over University of the East to stay atop the standings at 11-0.
Adamson had earlier secured its sixth straight Final Four appearance.
“We thank the Lord na nakuha namin ‘yung twice-to-beat for this. But siyempre for us, ‘di naman kami tumitingin doon. So for us, [kailangan] ma-continue lang namin and maging consistent kami sa ginagawa namin, especially na mapanatili doon sa number one spot,” said Adamson head coach JP Yude.
“Go back talaga kami sa studying our game versus them and then mga past few games nila. We need to study them hard, really well talaga so that makapag-prepare kami nang maayos,” he added, as they prepare for a second-round showdown with Season 87 Finals rival NUNS, which they edged in five sets in the first round.
“Siyempre pati ‘yung mental and emotion ng mga bata kailangan din ma-organize, ma-train din this week.”
After dropping the third set, the Lady Bullpups regained control in the fourth, unleashing sharp attacks from Diza Berayo and Jhaynna Bulandres to build an early 11-6 cushion. Errors momentarily allowed the Junior Lady Spikers to trim the lead to two, but NUNS responded with a 5-1 run to restore a six-point separation.
Kylie Celada tried to mount a late DLSZ comeback with consecutive hits, but the Lady Bullpups slammed the door shut with four straight points, capped by back-to-back Berayo attacks to seal the match.
Berayo powered NUNS with 20 points built on 18 attacks, along with 11 digs. Bulandres added 11 points off seven attacks, three blocks, and an ace, while Ysabella Cruz scored 10 in the one-hour-and-41-minute duel.
Atasha Doroja anchored the floor defense with 19 excellent digs and 17 receptions, while Rain Navarro tallied 15 excellent sets.
On the other hand, Maegan Pineda paced the Adamson defense with 14 digs and six receptions, while Alexa Katigbak recorded eight excellent sets in the 51-minute outing.
Ellaine Gonzalvo delivered 12 points in just two sets, scoring eight attacks, four aces, and adding five digs. Cassandra Suerte contributed 10 points from five aces, four attacks, and a block, also in limited action.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
In other results, University of Santo Tomas bagged its third straight win with a 25-13, 25-14, 25-17 sweep of University of the Philippines Integrated School.
Far Eastern University–Diliman likewise extended its streak to three after overpowering Ateneo de Manila University, 25-14, 25-11, 25-12.
With these wins, the Junior Tigresses and the Baby Tamaraws improved to 7-4, pulling two games clear of the Junior Lady Spikers in the tight three-way race for the last two Final Four seats.
For UST, Erin Sotto and Ryzel Laag led a balanced attack with eight points apiece in two sets — Laag with seven attacks, and Sotto with five attacks and two blocks — in the 62-minute sweep.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Cathlyn Umal and Aiumi Oso powered the Baby Tamaraws’ offense with seven points each — Oso on six attacks, while Umal registered five aces and a block. Querstine Paragas anchored the defense with 10 excellent digs in the 55-minute match.
Celada led the Junior Lady Spikers, who fell to fifth place with a 5-6 record, with 14 points on 11 attacks, two blocks, and an ace.
Elisha Capus scored 10 points for UPIS in the loss.
The Junior Fighting Maroons saw their Final Four bid end after absorbing their eighth defeat in 11 outings, while the Blue Eagles slipped to 1-10 for seventh place.
The Junior Lady Warriors remained without a win at 0-11.
