Trisha Tubu and Antonette Adolfo stepped up big time as they delivered the hits that mattered most in Adamson University's hard-earned 25-27, 25-20, 16-25, 25-22, 15-11 win over University of Santo Tomas to claim the bronze medal in the Shakey's Super League Collegiate Pre-Season Championship at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum yesterday.
The duo combined for three of the last four points of the Lady Falcons that completed their amazing come-from-behind win against the same squad that handed them a five-set opening day loss in the group stage almost two months ago.
Adamson saw an opening when UST committed a costly center line fault that shattered an 11-11 deadlock
Tubu then scored off a crosscourt hit before Adolfo brought the hammer down with consecutive attacks.
"We're really happy we got the win and at the same time we're able to make quick adjustments to take this game," Lady Falcons skipper and prized setter Louie Romero said.
Romero also lauded Tubu and Adolfo's late-game heroics.
"I'm really happy for them because they are the ones I expect to deliver. I just told them if I tossed them the ball just give it their all," Romero said.
Tabu led Adamson with 19 points built on 15 kills, two aces and a kill block while Lorene Toring added 14 markers. Rizza Cruz got 13 and Adolfo scored four of her nine points in the fifth set.
Down 8-11 in the last frame, the Tigresses rallied with three straight points behind Pierre Abellana's consecutive spikes before Pia Abbu tied it at 11 off a kill.
Abellana poured all of her 23 points on attacks in a lost cause for UST, which settled for fourth after a promising campaign.
Regina Jurado had 18 points, Imee Hernandez added 16 including six aces while Xyza Gula chipped in with 12.
Meanwhile, veterans Vannie Gandler and Lyann De Guzman powered Ateneo de Manila University to a 25-17, 25-27, 25-20, 25-12 victory over University of the Philippines for a fifth-place finish.
The power-hitting wingers fired 14 points each and combined for 22 of the 50 attack points scored by the Blue Eagles.
Geezel Tsunashima had 11 points while skipper Faith Nisperos added 10 points for Ateneo.
The Blue Eagles recovered from a second set meltdown with a strong showing in the next two frames including a dominating third set that saw Ateneo take a commanding 21-6 advantage.
Captain Jewel Encarnacion had 15 points with 13 coming off kills and Nina Ytang added 11 points in a losing effort for the Fighting Maroons, who settled for sixth place.
In the battle for seventh spot, Far Eastern University beat University of Perpetual Help, 25-18, 25-10, 25-27, 25-17.
Cheni Tagaod pounded 12 attacks, had three aces and a kill block to pace the Lady Tamaraws, who also got 13 and 12 points from Alyssa Devesora and Mitzi Panangin, respectively.
Charmaine Ocado posted 14 markers for the Lady Altas — the lone National Collegiate Athletic Association team in the Top 8.
