By: Czarina Agaton
National University Nazareth School earned a straight-set victory over Far Eastern University-Diliman, 25-21, 25-17, 25-20, in a battle of Final Four-bound teams in the UAAP Season 87 High School Girls’ Volleyball Tournament on Wednesday at the Paco Arena in Manila.
With the win, NUNS claimed the top spot with a 9-1 record, a game ahead of University of Santo Tomas at 8-2 in the race for the twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, the Junior Tigresses secured their eighth win, sweeping the University of the Philippines Integrated School, 25-13, 25-13, 25-22.
The back-to-back title-seeking Baby Falcons made quick work of Ateneo, winning 25-11, 25-13, 25-10, to notch their seventh victory of the season, tying the Baby Tamaraws in third place.
The Lady Bullpups capitalized on the Baby Tamaraws’ lapses in the second set to take a 2-0 lead. NUNS, with a two-set advantage, remained composed even as FEU-D came within one point, 18-19, in the third set, following a solid block by Cath Umal.
Last season’s runners-up then scored three unanswered points to reach match point, with Diza Berayo sealing the hour-long match with a crosscourt kill.
“Magandang bagay kasi ngayon yung second round, nagpe-peak na yung team unti-unti. But hindi kami pwedeng maging complacent pa rin. Kailangan pa namin trabahuhin hanggang matapos, hanggang sa Final Four,” said Lady Bullpups head coach Karl Dimaculangan.
Harlyn Serneche led NUNS with 16 points, including 15 attacks and an ace, while Berayo added 10 points, all from attacks.
Raine Alonzo paced FEU-D with 13 points on 12 attacks and an ace, while Franz Premaylon contributed seven attack points.
The Baby Tamaraws slipped to 7-3, sharing third and fourth place with reigning champions Adamson Baby Falcons.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Despite dominating the first two sets, the Junior Tigresses faced strong resistance from the Junior Fighting Maroons in the third.
UPIS rallied with a 6-0 run, highlighted by consecutive service aces from Khloe Long and a solid block by Janella Guarino, to take a 16-12 lead.
However, UST regained control, finishing the set with a 13-6 run, capped by a drop shot from Jairah Silvestre in the middle.
“Well, okay lang naman. In today’s game, siyempre mas marami yung exposure for our second unit. So yun naman din yung plano ng team namin, na to give a chance and exposure for our second unit. So, yun nga, magkaroon sila ng more confidence sa mga galaw at sarili nila,” said UST assistant coach Yani Fernandez.
Jheliane Auxtero led UST’s balanced offense with eight points, including seven attacks and an ace, while team captain Jai Adrao added seven attacks.
Janella Guarino topped UPIS with 10 points, seven from attacks and three from aces.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Well, so far, siyempre, it’s a good game. At least in the end, marami pa rin lapses na kailangan trabahuhin so that pagpasok ng Final Four, ma-minimize namin, especially yung pasa namin, yung services, yung attacks,” said Adamson head coach JP Yude.
“So most of them, kailangan trabahuhin talaga. Pero it’s a great experience sa mga bata din, so that yung mga ganitong sitwasyon, experience – madadala nila all throughout pagpasok ng Final Four,” the concurrent Lady Falcons head coach added.
Ellaine Gonzalvo led the Baby Falcons with 12 points, including three attacks, eight service aces, and a block.
Sam Cantada contributed eight points, all from attacks, while Abi Segui added five points.
Rian Ardidon powered the still-winless Blue Eagles with six points, including five attacks and an ace.
