ADAMSON University extended its perfect run to 13, bagging Game 1 of the UAAP Season 86 High School Girls’ Volleyball Finals with a tight sweep over defending two-time champion National University Nazareth School, 25-23, 25-20, 28-26, on Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The Baby Falcons will be shooting for their first-ever championship against the Lady Bullpups on Monday at 3:30 p.m. at the San Juan arena.
The third set saw Adamson to a slow start after taking the first two sets, allowing NUNS to seize control of the frame.
Season 85 Best Outside Hitter Shaina Nitura, playing at the Filoil EcoOil Centre for the first time, had other plans and reeled her squad to level the set at 20 apiece.
Three straight points from the San Marcelino-based squad snagged the advantage for good and eventually ended the match at one hour and 46 minutes.
“Siguro ang difference talaga dito is ‘yung how the players, paano sila lumaban talaga. Sabi ko rin sa kanila, one last push lang sa third set because ang dami ng sumasakit sa legs nila,” said Baby Falcons head coach JP Yude.
“Kumbaga thankful rin sa Lord na kahit down kami nung third set, still binigay pa rin Niya sa ‘min ‘yung panalo. Bigay ko rin ‘to sa hard work ng mga bata,” the former Soaring Falcon expressed.
Adamson and NUNS played a back-and-forth opening set capitalizing on the advantages the squads had on their opponents in every rotation, but breaks of the game saw the former take the first in a close 25-23 finish.
The second saw another nip-and-tuck affair between both sides before two consecutive errors from the Bullpups gave the Baby Falcons the upper hand at 18-16.
From there, Fel Sagaysay turned to her multiple options aside from Nitura, finding Sam Cantada and even middle hitter Tuds Tuddao and Angie Del Moral not only for a 7-4 run, but also the 2-0 set advantage.
