Just like last season, the University of the East Lady Warriors used their match against the Adamson University Lady Falcons as a rallying point, trumping the San Marcelino-based spikers for their first win of Season 79, 25-22, 20-25, 25-17, 25-18, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Last year in their final match of Season 78, the Lady Warriors broke their notorious 58-game losing skid against the Lady Falcons. This season, UE capped a six-game slide and sent AdU to their 14th straight loss.
In an error-filled affair, the Lady Warriors limited their miscues at crucial moments. In the three sets they won, the Lady Warriors erased Adamson leads before surging ahead. The Lady Falcons had no answer in the endgame as their 41 unforced errors stifled their attacks.
“Sinabi lang po sa amin ni coach na kaya po itong game na ‘to. Wala nang iiyak. Makinig lang sa sinasabi niya, sundin ‘yung instructions niya. And sobrang happy namin na nakuha na namin ‘yung panalo na ‘to,” said UE skipper Shaya Adorador, who tallied a season-high 23 points off 21 attacks and two blocks.
Open hitter Mary Anne Mendrez added nine points, while Angelica Dacaymat manager eight markers.
“Nakikita niyo lang naman na kulang na lang talaga sa kanila is finishing touches. Ngayon, nakita na nila na they can end a match. It will really help,” added UE head coach Francis Vicente. UE scored a huge difference in service aces, with eight deliveries to Adamson’s three.
At 1-6, UE head to seventh place, the first time they’ve been off the bottom of the standings at the end of the first round in decades.
Jema Galanza led Adamson with 18 points, while Joy Dacoron added nine.
Adamson falls to the eighth at 0-7.
The Scores
UE (3) – Adorador 23, Mendrez 9, Dacaymat 8, Alcayde 5, Baliton 2, Gabrada 3, Abil 1, Bendong 1, Catindig 1, Rodriguez 0, Arado (L)
AdU (1) – Galanza 18, Dacoron 9, Flora 7, Caole 4, Uy 4, Joaquin 3, Dahab 2, Momo 2, Matias 0, Mohammad 0, Wahab 0, Ponce (L), Tempiatura (L)
