Lady Eagles clinch semis berth in UAAP volleyball

The Adamson defense has always been a force to reckon win in the UAAP volleyball tournament, but Ateneo knew this all too well from their first round match-up.

 

Alyssa Valdez scored 19 points and Jem Ferrer made 41 excellent sets as the Lady Eagles pulled-off a 25-16, 25-22, 24-26, 25-19 win on Saturday in a showdown of Final Four-caliber teams.

 

The Katipunan contingent—led by Valdez and team captain Fille Cainglet—tore down the San Marcelino squad's defense early in the first set, scoring five straight points to break a 3-3 tie.

 

Adamson struggled with positioning as Ateneo's attackers found holes in the Lady Falcons' defense. The Lady Eagles easily won the opening set as they even led by 10, 24-14.

 

Adamson coach Minerva Pante motivated her team to play better defensively and the Lady Falcons responded by keeping the game close in the second set.

 

But Cainglet and Ferrer kept the Lady Eagles afloat and a tip-in by the latter gave Ateneo a two-sets-ton-none advantage.

 

The Lady Falcons, playing with more energy, battled back from a 14-10 deficit in the third set before posting a 20-18 edge and never looked back.

 

Pau Soriano and Anna Togonon led Adamson's defense at the net as they blocked Valdez and Cainglet's continuous scoring attempts.

 

Ateneo coach Roger Gorayeb, in a surprise move, benched Valdez in favor of shock trooper Ella de Jesus in the fourth.

 

The fourth turned into a defensive showdown with the Lady Eagles winning the seesaw battle to seal their ninth win and 11 games and clinch a Final Four berth.

 

Valdez led all scorers with 19 points, followed by the 18 and 13 markers each of Cainglet and Dzi Gervacio.

 

Soriano and Pineda both scored 17 points in a losing effort. — JVP, GMA News