By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
National University-Nazareth School picked up where it left off, needing just 54 minutes to sweep Adamson University, 25-11, 25-10, 25-9, and open the second round of the UAAP Season 89 High School Girls’ Volleyball Tournament on Friday at the Paco Arena Events and Sports Center in Manila.
The defending champions improved to 8-0 to maintain their hold on first place, while the Lady Baby Falcons absorbed their second consecutive loss but remained tied for third in the standings.
The Lady Baby Falcons struggled to generate points of their own in the third set, with Adamson relying on NU-Nazareth’s miscues to get on the board. The Lady Bullpups, meanwhile, pulled away late in the match with a 6-1 run, highlighted by consecutive attacks from Jhaynna Bulandres and Deborah Olatunji.
Rhee Anne Castro sent her attack into the net to hand the Lady Bullpups match point, but Ramielle Panganiban scored an ace after an NU-Nazareth error to save two match points for Adamson. Bulandres eventually put the match away with an attack.
“ Naging preparation namin and execution kasi is naging maganda this game. And ine-expect kasi namin talaga na co-come out sila strong. So, naging ready kami doon sa mga possibilities na puwede nilang gawin,” said NU-Nazareth head coach Karl Dimaculangan.
Despite the team’s dominant campaign, during which the Lady Bullpups have conceded just one set this season, Dimaculangan remains focused on taking things one game at a time.
“ One game at a time lang kasi ayaw naming isipin kung unbeaten kami, sino yung next opponent namin. So, so far, ‘yun ang mindset namin kasi ang goal naman namin is championship talaga. ‘Yun lang muna ang iri-remind ko sa mga player para stay grounded lang,” Dimaculangan said.
Bulandres led NU-Nazareth’s offense with 13 points on 10-of-21 attacks, two blocks, and an ace. Xyz Rayco chipped in nine points, while Raine Alonzo added eight to support the Lady Bullpups’ offensive output.
Micaella Gould also tallied 17 excellent sets to keep the offense running, while Ghenievib Belen collected 10 digs.
Ellaine Gonzalvo paced Adamson with 10 points, including nine attacks and a block, while adding nine digs in the loss.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Earlier, Far Eastern University-Diliman opened the second round by exacting revenge on first-round tormentor University of Santo Tomas, 25-23, 25-21, 24-26, 25-20, to improve to 5-3 and move into a tie for third place.
The Junior Golden Tigresses slipped to 6-2 but held on to second place despite having their four-game winning streak snapped.
FEU-D pulled away late in the fourth set with a 4-1 run to take a 23-18 lead, capped by back-to-back kills from MJ Udeagbala. UST’s Megan Hernandez answered with an attack, while an attack error from the Lady Baby Tamaraws trimmed the deficit further. However, Bernadine Boston scored a block to put FEU-D at match point before Aiumi Oso delivered another block to seal the victory.
“Nag-adjust lang naman kami dun sa blocking namin tapos sa floor defense. Malaki talagang naging [factor] sa pagkuha ng panalo ‘yung pasa namin, ‘yung receive kasi nung first round talagang hindi kami maka-receive, ‘di kami makapag-first ball,” said FEU-D head coach Joanne Bunag.
“Kailangan din naming ma-correct ‘yung mga kulang pa namin. Kailangan naming makuha talaga ‘yung receive namin. Kailangan talaga ma-perfect namin o kung ‘di man perfect, ma-less namin yung errors… Ang gusto rin naman namin talaga, kahit yung ibang teams, talagang ang target lang namin ngayon, makuha ‘yung twice-to-beat advantage, pero ‘yun nga, kailangan naming trabahuhin isa-isa.”
FEU-D found its scoring spark in Udeagbala, who put away 22 attacks and tallied four blocks and an ace for a match-high 27 points. Alexa Amana chipped in 18 points on 15 attacks and three blocks.
Emile Guivani handled the playmaking duties with 24 excellent sets while adding three attacks and two aces for five points. Querstine Paragas, meanwhile, came up with 14 digs and 12 excellent receptions on 24 attempts to bolster the Lady Baby Tamaraws’ floor defense in the hour-and-43-minute encounter.
Nicole Pelaez led UST with 16 points on 14 attacks and two aces in the loss.
Meanwhile, De La Salle Zobel and Ateneo de Manila University carried their momentum into the second round, scoring victories to open their campaigns.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
The Junior Lady Spikers swept University of the Philippines Integrated School, 25-20, 25-20, 25-19, while the Blue Eagles kept the University of the East at bay in four sets, 25-20, 20-25, 25-14, 25-23.
Kylie Celada led De La Salle Zobel’s offense with 10 points on eight attacks and two aces to help the Junior Lady Spikers even their record at 4-4. Aislinn Alemaña added eight points, while Sofia Inandan chipped in six.
Zofia Limpot recorded 10 excellent sets for DLSZ, with Angela Mendoza adding 10 digs and seven excellent receptions on 15 attempts to bolster the Junior Lady Spikers’ defense in the hour-and-11-minute encounter.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Jhenica Sadia headlined Ateneo’s scoring with 21 points on 19 attacks, a block, and an ace in the hour-and-38-minute match. Naihma Banal and Juliana Peregrino added 11 points apiece, with Banal scoring on 10 attacks and a block, while Peregrino contributed eight attacks and three aces.
Resty Olaguir facilitated the offense with 16 excellent sets while adding four attacks, two blocks, and two aces. Ainsly Santiago also played a key role in the backcourt with 13 digs and 24 excellent receptions.
Anya Callo paced UPIS with 12 points, including five blocks, four attacks, and three aces, as the team remained seventh in the standings after its seventh consecutive defeat.
Janah Sumagaysay led the winless Junior Lady Warriors with 13 points, all from attacks.
