UAAP: Adamson whips skidding Ateneo for third straight win
MANILA, Philippines— Adamson leaned heavily on the game-long brilliance of Trisha Tubu in shooting down Ateneo, 25-18, 25-23, 25-19, for its third straight win on Sunday at the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball.
Tubu was all over the floor, pooling together 23 points built around 22 attacks and an ace while Kate Santiago also shone with 11 kills and nine digs as the Lady Falcons tied the National University Lady Bulldogs at second place (4-1).
“We trusted each other as a team and just enjoyed ourselves out there. We are capable of accomplishing more if we play our usual game,” said Tubu.
Faith Nisperos had 17 points, including 16 attacks, and Vanessa Gandler added nine points while Roma Doromal contributed nine digs and 15 receptions for the Lady Blue Eagles, who saw themselves plummet to a 1-4 record with a third straight loss.
“We’re happy that we were able to execute the things that we talked about in practice,” said Adamson coach Jerry Yee.
Gandler pulled Ateneo within 24-18 in the first set, but she wasn’t ready for a Lorence Toring down-the-line strike at match point.
The Blue Eagles forged ahead in the second set, eager to reverse the trend quickly only to find themselves chasing Adamson again on a variety of shelling from Toring and Tubu, who scored eight of her points in that span alone.
Toring’s push put the Lady Falcons safely ahead before Santiago completed the comeback with a crosscourt kill.
The Blue Eagles tried to claw back from two sets down with renewed vigor in the third frame.
Santiago frustrated them as she took over the scoring chores that saw Adamson pull away, 23-17, on Gandler’s wayward attack.
After the Lady Falcons committed two quick errors that gave Ateneo a sliver of hope, Santiago close it out with another crosscourt rocket.