ADAMSON University shoved University of the Philippines out of the Final Four race with a 21-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-14 win in the UAAP Season 79 men’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday at The Arena in San Juan.
Jerome Sarmiento finished with 18 points, while John Yude and Dave Pletado added 17 and 11 markers, respectively, for the Falcons.
Although the San Marcelino-based squad failed to make it to the Final Four, its win formalized the semis cast - Ateneo (13-0), National University (12-1) Far Eastern University (7-6) and University of Santo Tomas (6-7).
It was a bittersweet ending for team captain Michael Sudaria, Karlle Ramirez and Sarmiento.
“Siyempre, unang apat na taon ko sanay kami na nasa Final Four lagi. Kaso, hindi talaga pinalad this year,” said the Adamson skipper.
Graduating Alfred Valbuena finished with 12 points, while John Mark Millete and Jerry Earl San Pedro finished with 15 and 10 markers, respectively.
Meanwhile, also-ran La Salle ended its campaign on a winning note after an easy victory over University of the East, 25-20, 25-16, 25-14, also on Wednesday at The Arena in San Juan.
The Green Spikers finished the season with a 5-9 win-loss card behind the heroics of Geraint Bacon and John delos Reyes, who had 11 and eight points, respectively.
The Taft-based squad joined UP and Adamson for a three-way tie at the fifth spot.
Clifford Inoferio and Alven Aljas finished with six points each for UE, which absorbed its fifth straight loss of the season.
However, the Red Warriors ended a 35-game losing streak after they defeated the Falcons in a hard-fought five-setter match on March 11.
UE top hitter Edward Camposano could only watch his team falter after he suffered a knee injury in the second round.
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