ADAMSON kept its dwindling Final Four bid alive with a five-set comeback over also-ran University of the Philippines, 25-17, 23-25, 20-25, 25-23, 15-13 win in UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Karen Verdeflor rose to the occasion for the Lady Falcons with 26 digs and 15 receptions in the first UAAP women’s volleyball match at the historic sporting venue in over two decades.
READ: UST, La Salle, NU in tight race for twice-to-beat spots. See SCENARIOS
Adamson leaped to joint-fifth alongside Ateneo at 3-8 (win-loss) after ending its six-game skid. But both schools will be eliminated from semifinal contention should Far Eastern University win at least one of its four remaining matches.
"'Yung fifth set, grabe, sabi ko sa mga bata kailangan trabahuhin talaga always at 'wag tumigil everytime kasi wala naman impossible kung gugustuhin talaga nila at may willingness talaga laging manalo," said Adamson head coach JP Yude.
"Sobrang saya lang kasi sunod sunod yung talo, masakit para samin. So, etong panalo po parang emotional lang kami lalo na yung mga senior," senior ace Mayang Nuique added.
Barbie Jamili proved to be the Lady Falcons' sparkplug on offense and defense with a triple-double of 16 points, 14 receptions and 11 digs. Nuique, meanwhile, carried the scoring load in the fifth-set tiebreak with 15 markers on 11 attacks, three blocks and one ace.
The Fighting Maroons were once three points away from their second win of the season in the fourth set with a 22-20 lead, up two sets to one. But with their backs against the wall, Jamili & Co. picked up the pace and saved what was already a fading Final Four bid -- at least for one more match.
Strong an effort as it was, Niña Ytang's game-high 17 points paired with back-to-back 16-point outputs from Jewel Encarnacion and Joan Monares couldn't get UP over the hump as the now-eliminated Diliman side dropped their tenth match of Season 86.
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