UAAP Volleyball: Lady Tams subdue Adamson in five grueling sets

MANILA, Philippines – With Far Eastern University looking poised to end the last game of the first round early, Adamson University refused to back down and clawed their way back into the game.

The Lady Tamaraws, who almost blew a two-set lead, had to fend off the Lady Falcons in a punishing five-setter, 25-21, 25-20, 29-31, 25-19, 15-10, to take their fourth win in the 76^th UAAP Women’s Volleyball tournament, Wednesday, January 15 at The Arena in San Juan.

Bernadette Pons came out with her biggest UAAP game so far as she finished with a career-high 27 points to lead FEU to their second straight win in the tail-end of the first round of eliminations.

Holding a similar record of three wins and three losses, both teams started the game on fire with the solo fourth position is at stake. It was FEU who drew first blood when they overcame an 11-4 Adamson lead to take the opening frame, 25-21.

Adamson once again opened up the second set action as they blitzed their way to a 9-4 advantage but Genevieve Casugod scored a chunk of her 13 points in a comeback effort that led FEU to a 2-set advantage.

FEU, however, ran out of luck as the Lady Falcons cruised in the third. The Lady Falcons had to thwart an FEU resurgence late in the frame that brought the set to a distance, finishing in favor of Adamson, 31-29. 

Inspired by their hard-fought third set win, Amanda Villanueva lifted Adamson to a searing fourth set to force a deciding fifth set, 25-19.

Both teams then traded runs in the fifth but FEU proved to be tougher in end-game as Adamson wilted on the pressure of do-or-die plays.

Supporting Pon’s 27 are Mary Palma, Marie Charlemagne Simborio and Casugod, who all finished in double-digit scoring at 16, 14, and 13 markers respectively.

Sheila Pineda once again exploded as she tallied in a game-high  29 but it was not enough as Adamson absorbed back-to-back defeats to go down to fifth place at 3-4.

FEU will take on National University next on Saturday, January 18, while Adamson and University of the Philippines square off on Sunday, January 19. – Rappler.com