Adamson spikers prick Lady Tams

MANILA, Philippines - Adamson struck back in the fourth set then rallied in the decider to repulse Far Eastern U, 25-17, 23-25, 23-25, 25-13, 15-11, decision and clinch the last post-season berth in the UAAP Season 76 women’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan last night.

Sheila Pineda came away with 25 hits and 13 digs while Mayette Zapanta chipped in 14 points to power the Lady Falcons to the key win over the hard-luck Lady Tams.

“We put up a good floor coverage to buck their solid blocking,” said Lady Falcons mentor Sherwin Meneses.

After surviving a two-hour, eight-minute duel, Adamson will face third-ranked Ateneo in the first step-ladder semifinals match on Saturday.

The Lady Falcons were trailing 3-6 in the fifth set, but Zapanta and Pineda delivered key hits to take the lead at 10-8.

Adamson finally found the way to neutralize FEU frontliners Remy Palma and Geneveve Casugod as the Lady Falcons sealed the win when Amanda Villanueva scored the kill off the block.

Earlier, Michael Sudaria scored 16 points, including a match-clinching kill that Adamson towed to the Final Four, a 25-20, 27-25, 25-23 decision over La Salle in their men’s do-or-die match.

Headed for early vacation after losing to Ateneo in the penultimate day of the elims, Adamson got a new lease of life after last-place University of the East beat La Salle in the final day which forged the playoff for the No. 4 spot.

For the Lady Tamaraws, it will wait another season to grab the elusive 30th championship.       

Rookie Bernadeth Pons tossed in 17 points and 10 digs while Palma and Charm Simborio had 10 hits apiece for FEU.

The Falcons also got big numbers from John Mallapre, who scattered 14 hits and eight digs. 

Raymark Woo led La Salle with 13 points, while Red Christensen chipped nine hits and nine digs.

In men’s football, University of the Philippines ace striker Jinggoy Valmayor is suspended Games 1 and 2 of the Finals against FEU due to straight red card for the violent conduct he committed in last week’s Final Four duel with University of Santo Tomas.

The finals kickoff today is set at 2 p.m.