In true Adamson fashion, the Soaring Falcons earned their first win in UAAP Season 79 in four grimy sets over the undermanned De La Salle University Green Spikers 26-24, 24-26, 25-20, 28-26 at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Falcons suffered a scare in the opening set, watching their four-point cushion evaporate as La Salle forced the first of numerous deuces. As the Falcons forced a tie, 24-24, skipper Mike Sudaria sprained his left ankle after an awkward landing. In the following point, La Salle absorbed their own loss as team captain Raymark Woo injured his surgically-repaired left knee on his own poor landing. The Falcons edged ahead in the set clinching point via a block, a trend which will continue in the latter sets.
The Falcons again surrendered a comfortable lead in the second set, squandering their 23-21 advantage via attack errors. The Falcons attempts at rallying back only resulted in forced plays that paved the way to La Salle’s only set win.
The third frame saw the match’s only quick turnout with Adamson powering in a 5-0 run that pushed them to an insurmountable 18-13 advantage.
Adamson had the match in sight, leading 22-18 in the fourth frame. But a slew of bad receptions and attack errors buoyed La Salle to a 6-1 run that almost allowed them to extend the match, 24-23. Clutch conversions from JP Yude and George Labang saved the Falcons from La Salle’s three set point advantages. But blocks from Jerome Sarmiento and Pao Pablico capped the match-ending 3-0 Falcon run.
“Marami na nga sa team ang nada-down na ang morale kasi muhka ngang malayo na ‘yung Final Four. Pero sa tingin ko nga, isang panalo lang ‘yan magsu-sunod-sunod na ‘yan,” said skipper Mike Sudaria who sat out the last three sets but insists his ankle is fine.
In his absence, Yude topped the Falcons with 18 points while Jerome Sarmiento and Pao Pablico each added 17 markers.
Adamson (1-4) goes for another win when they face the UST Tiger Spikers (2-2) on Saturday at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Open hitter Arjay Onia led the Green Spikers with 27 points off 23 attacks, two blocks, and two aces while middle hitter Rafael Del Pilar added 12 markers.
La Salle (1-4) takes on the winless UE Red Warriors (0-5) on Sunday also at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Scores
AdU (3) – Yude 18, Pablico 17, Sarmiento 17, Pletado 8, Labang 4, Ramirez 4, Miranda 3, Sudaria 2, Melgar 0, Mediolla (L)
DLSU (1) – Onia 27, Del Pilar 12, Dumago 10, Bacon 7, Dimayuga 5, Jose 5, Woo 4, Asia G. 1, Asia R. 1, Maravilla 0, Marco 0, Movido (L)
