By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
National University Nazareth School completed a season sweep of Season 86 finals rival Adamson University taking a 25-21, 25-17, 21-25, 25-17 victory on Sunday at Paco Arena in Manila. to remain as co-leaders in the UAAP Season 87 High School Girls’ Volleyball Tournament.
The Lady Bullpups also defeated the defending champions in the first round with a 16-25, 25-23, 25-20, 23-25, 15-13 win on October 2.
This time around, NUNS needed an hour and 43 minutes to foil Adamson.
Midway through the fourth set, the Lady Bullpups unleashed a decisive four-point run, featuring back-to-back aces by Lyza Dela Peña, which extended their lead to 14-6.
Maintaining their momentum, the Lady Bullpups reached match point after an Adamson service error by Sofia Arasan.
Though Sam Cantada scored a late push for the Lady Baby Falcons, Denesse Daylisan secured the victory with a powerful attack, closing the match at 25-17.
“Itong second round kasi ine-expect namin na mas magiging mahirap, so meron kaming enough preparations siguro and gladly na-execute naman namin ‘yung pinag-prepare namin,” shared Lady Bullpups head coach Karl Dimaculangan.
He added, “So iilang mabigat pa kami na makakalaban so [sana] magtuloy-tuloy pa ‘yung wins namin.”
Daylisan spearheaded the Lady Bullpups’ offense with an impressive 16 points from 15-of-41 attacks and an ace.
Diza Berayo and Harlyn Serneche contributed 14 and 8 points, respectively.
Setter Rihanna Navarro orchestrated the offense with 13 excellent sets and led the service line with three aces, while Atasha Doroja anchored the defense with 13 excellent digs.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Cantada led the Baby Falcons with 15 points, while Lhouriz Tuddao and Janessa Buhay chipped in with 10 points each.
Buhay, however, was stretchered off the court after a bad landing during a 13-all tie in the second set.
The win lifted NUNS to a 6-1 record, tying them with idle Far Eastern University-Diliman at the top of the standings.
Adamson fell to 5-3, sitting in fourth place.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Earlier, University of Santo Tomas defeated Ateneo de Manila University in straight sets, 25-15, 25-13, 25-10, improving to a 6-2 record for solo third.
“Sa second stringers, primarily ang goal natin doon is mabigyan ng exposure ‘yung mga bata,” remarked UST assistant coach Lerma Giron, who stood in for head coach Kungfu Reyes as he led the women’s team in the Shakey’s Super League at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Golden Tigresses claimed a 25-14, 25-19, 25-21 victory over the UP Fighting Maroons.
“Kumbaga to gain more experience. So far naman, nagampanan naman nila kasi napanalo nila ‘yung two sets. Pero then again, kailangan pang maraming trabahuhin,” she added.
The Junior Tigresses’ balanced scoring saw Ryzel Laag, Antonette Jaramillo, Kim Rubin, and Aneeza Santos each tally seven points.
Laag and Jaramillo contributed in the first two sets, while Rubin’s points all came in the third.
Every Tigress saw court action in the 57-minute match.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
De La Salle-Zobel, on the other hand, prevailed over University of the Philippines Integrated School in straight sets, 25-13, 25-17, 25-23, climbing to a 3-5 record to remain fifth in the standings.
Kylie Celada led the Junior Lady Spikers with 12 points, including nine attacks and three aces.
Juliene Mindanao and Aislinn Alemaña also chipped in with 10 points apiece.
Janella Guariño’s 16 points were a bright spot for the Junior Fighting Maroons, who fell to 1-7 and sit sixth in the rankings.
The Blue Eagles are still winless in eight games.
