Games today:
(Mall of Asia Arena)
9 a.m. — Ateneo vs UP (m)
11 a.m. — UST vs DLSU (m)
1 p.m. — Ateneo vs UP (w)
3 p.m. — UST vs DLSU (w)
Adamson University staved off University of the East 25-15, 25-18, 21-25, 25-18, to get back on the winning track Saturday in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Lady Falcons improved to a 2-1 win-loss card while the Lady Warriors remained winless in three games.
Shaina Nitura finished with 19 points on 19-of-35 spikes, alongside 13 excellent digs and 12 excellent receptions for Adamson, which survived a 32-error outing.
Nigerian Frances Mordi added 19 points and setter Fhei Sagaysay had 15 excellent sets to go with 10 points for the Lady Falcons, who played with fire in the third set sitting Nitura out for most of the frame.
“We’re working on our chemistry and errors have been glaring. We’re gonna go back to training and work on limiting or better not commit those simple errors,” Nitura said.
Bea Zamudio scored 14 points with 13 digs and nine receptions while Khy Cepada and Van Bangayan each had 11 for the Lady Warriors.
Meanwhile, defending champion National University (NU) flexed its championship form to essay a reverse sweep of Far Eastern University (FEU), 17-25, 16-25, 25-19, 25-21, 15-12, to stay unbeaten.
Showcasing composure under pressure, the Lady Bulldogs rallied from 7-11 down in the fifth set with a gutsy 8-1 run sealed by Arah Panique’s cross court kill and well-timed kill block for the three-peat-seeking NU’s third win in as many games.
Panique finished with a tournament-best 27 points off 23 kills, three kill blocks and a service ace while Vange Alinsug added 15 points, 15 excellent receptions and 13 digs.
Rookie Sam Cantada struggled in the first two sets before rediscovering her form, contributing two points in the decisive endgame run to finish with 11 points.
The Lady Tamaraws slipped to a 1-2 mark.
FEU used a 8-2 blitz to erase a two-point deficit early in the deciding frame to take a comfortable 11-7 lead only to falter and crumble under pressure.
FEU rolled in the first two sets, capitalizing on NU’s 21 errors and Cantada going scoreless.
The Lady Bulldogs woke up in the next two with Panique, Alinsug and Cantada leading the way.
Gerzel Petallo had 14 points, Cla Loresco had 12 points while Alyzza Devosora and Jaz Ellarina contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively, for FEU.
In men’s play, the Tamaraws stunned six-peat-seeking Bulldogs, 22-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-20, to remain unscathed after three games and claim solo lead in a rematch of last year’s finals series that went the full distance.
Lirick Mendoza paced the Tamaraws with 17 points from 13 kills, three kill blocks and an ace. Amet Bituin added 16 markers with eight excellent receptions and three digs, Dryx Saavedra had 15 points while Doula Ndongala provided 14 points for the Morayta-based squad.
The Bulldogs slipped to a 2-1 card despite Alas Pilipinas standout Buds Buddin’s 21-point effort.
Meanwhile, the Red Warriors arrested a two-game slide at the expense of reeling Falcons, 25-22, 20-