A Time to Soar: Both Adamson teams KO foes to advance to UAAP Volleyball Final Four

(Game photos to follow)

First the men’s team used their brooms, and then later the women’s team used their determination.

That’s the underlying theme in the two victories posted by the Adamson Soaring Falcons and their distaff counterparts subdued their respective opponents on what was billed as “Knockout Wednesday” as both squads advanced to the Final Four in the ongoing UAAP Season 76 Volleyball competition at the San Juan Arena.

The matches were broadcast live by ABS-CBN Sports and Action with the Falcons taking on the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Spikers shown first.

DLSU already had one foot in the door of the Final Four with a record of 7-6 and only needed to hurdle the winless University of the East Red Warriors to cruise into the semifinals as the fourth seed. Adamson looked to be in the doldrums at this prospect and were praying for a miracle.

It happened.

UE upset the Green Spikers on the final day in four sets to set up the knockout encounter. The chance being given the Falcons celebrated their reprieve and readied themselves against the team they had split the season series with. Adamson claimed their first meeting 25-19, 25-18, 23-25, 25-23 behind scoring machine Michael Sudaria’s nineteen markers last January 15th. Two days before Valentine’s Day, both teams locked horns anew but this time DLSU prevailed 25-19, 25-21, 21-25, 25-18, thanks to a combined 55 points from detonators Red Christensen (23 points) and Raymark Woo (22 points). That victory also gave La Salle its fourth straight win—one of which came against the top seeded National University (NU) Bulldogs and Ronald Dulay’s charges looked primed to lock up that playoff berth.

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But then the Red Warriors derailed their shot at an outright entry and the rejuvenated Adamson squad aimed not to squander their stay of execution.

Speaking of execution, the Falcons came out firing in the sudden-death tiff.

Sudaria and John Mallapre took turns bombarding the Green Spikers defenses and needed to turn things up in the second when Woo began to wax hot. Adamson dug deep and kept the Green Spikers at bay with a series of inspired defensive gems led by the blocking prowess of Ernest Ryan Consunji as well as the digging brilliance of libero Rence Melgar and showed enough to character to snatch the set and hold a major psychological edge heading into the third.

La Salle put everything on the line, but the Falcons defenses were keen on limiting the production of Chirstensen—who is a national team candidate. In the end, Adamson swept DLSU and sent a strong message to the top seeded Bulldogs that they weren’t about to give up the fight.

The final score read 25-20, 27-25, 25-23 for the Falcons in a pulsating yet draining knockout win.

Sudaria led all scorers with sixteen markers, while Mallapre added fourteen. However, due credit has to go to the amazing reflexes of Melgar who came away with 29 “excellents” (fourteen excellent digs and fifteen excellent receptions) and was a key component in the overall Adamson defensive effort that held Christensen to a mere nine points in La Salle’s most important match of the season.

Woo was the only Green Spiker in double figures with thirteen points (all on attacks). DLSU is now left to ponder what went horribly wrong to end their season after seemingly coming together in the second round. For the Falcons, Head Coach Domingo Custodio has three days to refocus on NU—a team they have not beaten all season.

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The women’s sudden-death match featured the Lady Falcons taking on the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws in what was also a match that could have been avoided by both protagonists.

FEU began the second round in roller coaster fashion not being able to string together a win streak and had to contend with a debilitating injury to one of their key players in quicker Remy Palma. However, coming off a four set loss to Adamson, the Lady Tams had the then 1-11 University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons to clash with and looked to have the edge after drubbing the Dilimanians in straight sets on their first meeting last December 11th.

Palma’s absence was immediately felt by FEU as the Lady Maroons raced to an early advantage and had the ladies from Morayta overexerting just to keep up. UP eventually stole the first set and began bamboozling the Lady Tams in the second set. FEU won the third set, but it was too late. The Lady Maroons had a height advantage that just could not be overcome and UP pulled off the biggest shocker of the tournament.

The Lady Falcons—who were taking on NU in the second game—celebrated with UP as they knew that even if they dropped the match against the Lady Bulldogs, they would only have to contend with eliminated University of Santo Tomas (a team they spanked in straight sets during the first round) to gain the last semifinals slot.

Well, UST pulled a UP resulting in the Lady Falcons being relegated to the knockout match as FEU closed its second round campaign with a third consecutive loss at the hands of Ateneo on the final day of eliminations.

This quickly shaped into a war of attrition.

The Lady Tamaraws closed the first round with a protracted victory over Adamson in a game wherein which they took the first two sets convincingly. The Lady Falcons avenged that loss in the second by starting FEU’s eventual three game skid to end the season—this time with a four set triumph.

With all the stats now thrown out of the proverbial window, the final battle for the last seat in the Final Four commenced before a crowd of nearly two thousand paying spectators.

Adamson struck first by taking the first set behind the blazing guns of graduating bomb threats Sheila “Bangnita” Pineda and Mayette Zapanta.

The Lady Tamaraws responded quickly and decisively; taking the next two tightly contested sets behind a heroic effort from the visibly hobbling Palma and the resurgence of Rookie of the Year candidate Bernadeth Pons as well as the surprise support of youngster Charm Simborio.

Veteran playmaker Gyzelle Sy was close to perfection for FEU in sending her well timed sets to her targets almost effortlessly. The senior orchestrator came away with a whopping 37 excellent sets—most of which were attained during those two sets that went the way of the Lady Tams.

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But in the fourth set, it appeared that FEU had run out of fuel as Pineda led a searing attack that severely challenged the frontliners of the Lady Tams. Reserve power hitter Amanda Villanueva joined the fray as even the quick attacks from center spiker—and former national team member—Faye Guevara began connecting. Having tied the match at two sets apiece, Adamson had the momentum heading into the decider.

FEU did their best to make one final push but there was just too much firepower working for the Lady Falcons and former national team setter May Macatuno found her tempo at the most opportune moments. Adamson prevailed in the KO classic 25-17, 23-25, 23-25, 25-13, 15-11 to arrange another sudden-death clash against the third seed Lady Eagles in the stepladder playoffs.

Pineda’s massive 25 point explosion was a major catalyst in the victory, ably supported by Zapanta’s fourteen and twelve off the bench for Villanueva. Pons had seventeen points to lead FEU, while Simborio and Palma chipped-in ten markers each.

A dejected Palma was in tears at the end of the hard-fought encounter as the very youthful Lady Tamaraws lost their fourth straight match. They will be back, however, and much credit has to go to Head Coach Shaq de los Santos and the FEU couaching staff for rearing a team that has seven rookies in its roster into contenders faster than many expected.

For Adamson and Head Coach Sherwin Meneses, they whether their first do-or-die assignment and now must replicate the result against Ateneo this weekend. In fact, the Lady Falcons must triumph three more times to make it to the Finals against the undefeated reigning champions DLSU. If they manage to beat the Lady Eagles (a team they have yet to defeat this season), they must overcome NU’s twice-to-beat advantage to get to the Lady Spikers. Adamson has only won two sets against the Lady Bulldogs all season.

The uphill climb is on for the Lady Falcons, but the men’s team also has a tough wall to scale; ironically against the same educational institution. The Falcons must trounce NU twice as well to make it to Finals against either Ateneo or FEU, the other two squads in the semifinals.

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For now, both Adamson squads are happy to be in the Final Four. But the most difficult portion of an intended Cinderella story begins.

BOX SCORES:

(M-KO) Adamson* def. La Salle 25-20, 27-25, 25-23

AdU—Sudaria 16, Mallapre 14, Consunji 8, Saraza 7, David 6, Ramirez 6, Melgar (L) 0, Valdez 0.

DLSU—Woo 13, Calderon 9, Christensen 9, Cerveza 7, Calasin 2, Bartolome 2, Santos 1, Dizon (L) 0, Movido (L) 0, de la Vega 0, Frey 0.

*Advances to Final Four (4th seed)

(W) Adamson* def. FEU 25-17, 23-25, 23-25, 25-13, 15-11

AdU—Pineda 25, Zapanta 14, Villanueva 12, Guevara 11, Paat 7, Cortel 6, Macatuno 4, Listana 1, Tempiatura (L) 0, Lebumfacil (L) 0.

FEU—Pons 17, Palma 10, Simborio 10, Casugod 9, Dawson 6, Sy 4, Papa 1, Basas 1, Agno (L) 0, Dionela (L) 0, Atienza 0, Torres 0.

*Advances to Final Four (4th seed)

Follow Noel Zarate on Twitter (@NoelZarate) and email sportztackle@yahoo.com