FIGHTING through a five-setter for the first time in UAAP Season 88, it was La Salle that ultimately did the soaring.
The Lady Spikers dodged the upset axe, downing very game Adamson in five hardfought sets, 19-25, 25-20, 25-21, 13-25, and 15-5, on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena, days before their looming finals rematch with National U.
Angel Canino took charge in the comeback, outdueling fellow Alas Pilipinas standout Shaina Nitura with a fearsome performance that kept the the green-and-white’s perfect six-game start to the season intact.
La Salle unleashed eight straight points to finish off the match from a 7-5 lead, capped by back-to-back hits from winger Shane Reterta who finished with eight points, 11 digs and 12 receptions.
Canino came in clutch in the tiebreak, sealing her triple-double of 19 points, 12 digs and 11 receptions, with captain Shevana Laput turning in 25 points built on 19 attacks and six blocks.
"Sinabi namin sa mga bata na character na 'tong [fifth set]. Dito na lalabas lahat ng trinaining at pinaghirapan natin, at dito masusukat 'yung puso at character na ilalabas niyo," said deputy coach Noel Orcullo.
"Nakita naman namin 'yung laban at talagang ginusto nila."
Adamson's challenge
The Lady Falcons seized control early, racing to leads that stretched to as much as eight despite Canino’s late push that saved two set points from 17-24 down.
Nitura, however, refused to let the momentum slip, scoring the last three points of the opening set, finishing the frame with seven markers, while Frances Mordi chipped in nine to secure the early edge.
The second set turned into a tug-of-war, but although Adamson again jumped to an early advantage, the Lady Spikers made sure to finish stronger this time. They strung together four straight points in the closing stretch, two from Lilay del Castillo followed by back-to-back hits from Canino to draw level in the match.
The Nitura-Mordi tandem continued their side's trend of quick starts in the third set, but La Salle once again found its answer after falling behind early.
The Lady Spikers, however, struggled to put the match away in four sets, as a flurry of unforced errors crept into their game, allowing the Lady Falcons to capitalize, opening the fourth frame with an 8-3 burst and later unleashing a seven-point run to build a commanding 16-7 cushion.
A surprise sparkplug in Marie Joy Aseo delivered late hits to cap a 17-6 set-clinching run, marking the first tiebreak of the tournament for both teams.
In the fifth set, four points from Laput, three each from Canino and Reterta, plus two from Amie Provido all came together to leave their opponents flat-footed in the five-set duel.
Nitura still turned in a triple-double of 21 points, 17 receptions, and 10 digs in the loss, with 22 markers and nine receptions from Mordi.
Lhouiz Tuddao and Aseo were also surprise packages for Adamson, with the former putting in 11 points and the latter with eight markers and 13 digs.
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