The Adamson University Soaring Falcons scored the biggest upset of the UAAP Season 80 Men’s Volleyball Tournament, sweeping erstwhile league-leaders National University, 25-23, 25-19, 25-16, Sunday morning at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Soaring Falcons showed their mastery of the Bulldogs, picking on NU’s weakest receivers constantly.
While Adamson finished with just three aces, their solid serving game showed as they limited NU to a 33 percent spiking clip and coaxed the Bulldogs into 26 errors. Adamson limited their giveaways to a season-low 13.
“Pinaghandaan namin talaga sila pagdating sa service namin. Sabi nga ng mga coaches na kailangan namin tumarget sa service, huwag natin ibigay sa libero,” shared Adamson team captain JP Yude. “Matatangkad nga sila, pero hirap sila sa depensa at receive. Buong week, ‘yan talaga finocus namin na halos mapagalitan na kami kapag hindi namin naaayos.”
Elevating their record to 5-6, the Falcons found renewed zeal after a disastrous 2-5 record in the first round.
“Hindi rin namin alam pero, siguro, talagang lumalaban lang kami. Importante kasi na makapasok sa pang-apat, hindi namin hinahangad ‘yung mas mataas,” Yude closed.
Leo Miranda topped the Falcons with 13 points, while the team’s leading scorer Pao Pablico managed 12.
Bryan Bagunas was the only Bulldog in double-digits with 14 points. Team captain Francis Saura and graduating Fauzi Ismail added eight markers, apiece.
The Soaring Falcons face the De La Salle University Green Spikers (4-7) after the Holy Week break on April 4 at the FilOil Flying V Centre. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs plummeted to a three-way tie for first with Ateneo and FEU, sporting identical 9-2 cards. NU take on the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons (3-8) also on April 4.
The Scores
AdU (3) – Miranda 13, Pablico 12, Labang 9, Alvarez 7, Bello 7, Amburgo 1, Jimenez 0, Melgar (L)
NU (0) – Bagunas 14, Ismail 8, Saura 8, Natividad 6, Malabunga 5, Dayandante 2, Daymil 2, Ancheta 0, Gampong 0, Mondero 0, Marcos (L)
