Lady Spikers rally to beat Tamaraws

MANILA, Philippines — Pacesetting La Salle unleashed a strong finishing kick to escape the blushes in a 25-17, 21-25, 16-25, 25-20, 15-5 nail-biter over Far Eastern U as it closed in on a Final Four berth in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament last night at Filoil Flying V Center.

The Lady Spikers recovered from a listless outing in the second and third sets and summoned back their fiery form towards the finish en route to extending their win streak to four and a leading 8-2 card to secure at least a playoff for a semis berth.

“Nawala mga beterano nung second and third sets, buti nakapag-adjust sa fourth and fifth. May kulang pa kasi may times na mababa self-confidence lalo na pag nagkaka-error kaya sinabihan ko sila na wag nila hayaang hilahin pababa sarili nila (Our veterans didn’t play to expectations in the second and third sets but fortunately we’re able to adjust in the fourth and fifth. They still have the tendency to lose self-confidence especially when they commit errors. I told them to not let themselves be pulled down by such),” said DLSU mentor Ramil de Jesus.

Majoy Baron and Kim Dy each punched in 18 while Des Cheng added 10, delivering the goods in the fourth, where the Lady Spikers seized a 23-19 upperhand and sustaining it in the decider, where the Taft-based crew raced to a 13-4 cushion.

Bernadeth Pons led with 16 for the Lady Tams, who slipped to 6-4. 

Earlier, Adamson scored payback against first-round tormentor University of the East, 19-25, 25-11, 16-25, 25-16, 15-12, to snap a two-game slide and boost its semis bid.

With hitter Chiara Permentilla out on a left ankle sprain, the Lady Falcons turned to Jema Galanza, who struck with 22 points, the same number of digs and 11 excellent receptions and the troika of Mylene Paat (18), Eli Soyud (11) and Joy Dacoron (10) in filling in the slack to pave the way for their fourth win in nine outings.

The Lady Falcons raced to a 12-8 lead in the decider and held off the Lady Warriors’ final uprising, banking on Galanza and Paat’s clutch hits to complete the win that avenged their five-set defeat at the hands of UE. The Lady Warriors saw their two game-streak snapped and slid to last place at 2-7.

“I thought the team did a good job fighting especially in the fifth set, not letting UE go on point runs and keeping the lead,” said AdU coach Air Padda, who rued what she felt were questionable calls during the crucial stage of the match.

In the men’s division, streaking National U Bulldogs clinched at least a playoff for a Final Four berth after outclassing La Salle, 26-24, 19-25, 25-20, 28-26.

The Bulldogs stormed to their eighth straight win and 9-1 overall to put one foot in the next round while sending the Archers down to 3-6.

Santo Tomas bounced back with a 22-25, 27-25, 25-8, 25-9 beatdown of winless University of the East to join idle Adamson at No. 4. The Warriors fell to 0-9.