By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
Defending champion National University-Nazareth School sought redemption over first round tormentors University of Santo Tomas, pulling off a 25-23, 21-25, 25-21, 25-21, 18-16 win that kept its hopes alive of finishing at No. 2 in the UAAP Season 86 High School Girls’ Volleyball Tournament at the Adamson University Gym, Saturday.
The Bullpups showed steely resolve in the two-hour, 35-minute match to tie the Junior Tigresses at 8-4.
“We are aware of our situation na galing kami dun sa first round na we had losses with Adamson, UST, so alam namin na mahirap ‘yung pagdadaanan namin if we wanted to still get to the finals,” said NUNS head coach Norman Miguel. “So alam namin na this is a must-win game for us to be on the rank two so kailangan talaga namin pagtrabahuhan itong game na ‘to.
”We’ll just have to keep on reminding the players na nasayo pa rin ‘yung championship heart, ‘yung character. Hindi man ganoon kadali ‘yung pinagdaanan namin pero alam natin na kung gugustuhin talaga, lalabas niyo ‘yung puso niyo to get the title again,” the returning Lady Bulldogs head coach continued.
Adamson University seeks to jump straight to the Finals via a 12-match sweep of eliminations and make the Final Four a step-ladder format against Far Eastern University-Diliman at noon Sunday.
The second-running Baby Tamaraws hold an 8-3 record and a victory will assure them of the twice-to-beat bonus in the Final Four.
A FEU-D loss will force a three-way at second place at 8-4, giving NUNS the No. 2 ranking over FEU-D and UST.
The fifth set began closely contested as neither team was able to score more than two points in a row.
Den Daylisan notched two consecutive kills to tie the game at seven points. Both teams figured in a tie four more times until four touches were called on NUNS to send UST to match point.
An attack from Daylisan tied the game at 14 before Lianne Penuliar served up an ace to take back the lead.
Robi Silla and Karyll Miranda teamed up for a block point to send NUNS to match point, but an attack error from Daylisan tied the game at 16.
Daylisan then scored two crucial kills to win 18-16.
Climbing to an 8-3 record, NU now shares third place with UST.
Meanwhile, in the boys’ matches, UST remained in contention for the last Final Four slot after a decisive 25-16, 25-22, 25-11 win over DLSZ.
The Junior Golden Spikers started the third set strong, quickly establishing an 8-3 lead over the Junior Spikers.
The margin eventually grew to double digits after UST fired off a 7-1 streak that included three attack points from Sean Cruz.
From there, the Junior Golden Spikers pulled further ahead after Cruz scored four points in a row off an attack and three kill blocks.
Jancriz Ayco scored off a combination play, bringing UST to match point. Paolo Medino finished the match with a crosscourt attack, 25-11.
UST improved to 8-6 holding on to fourth place, while DLSZ wrapped up their season in sixth place with a 4-10 record.
In the other girls’ match, DLSZ closed out its season on a high note after overpowering Ateneo in four sets, 25-18, 23-25, 25-16, 25-18 while in the other boys’ game, UPIS capped off its season with a second victory after defeating Ateneo in straight sets, 25-16, 25-22, 25-18.
The Junior Lady Spikers concluded their season at fifth with a 4-8 record, as the Blue Eagles trail behind in sixth place with a 2-10 standing.
The Fighting Maroons ended their season settling in seventh place with a 2-12 record, while the Blue Eagles concluded theirs at the bottom, finishing at 0-14 without a win.
