V-League: Lady Falcons go the distance, survive Lady Tigresses

(Updated 5:44pm) The Adamson Lady Falcons overcame the UST Lady Tigresses to take game one of their best-of-three battle for third place, in the first conference of the 10th season of the Shakey's V-League, 23-25 25-23 19-25 25-23 15-12, Thursday at the SM MOA Arena.

The match started with both teams exchanging shots, as UST held a slim one-point lead by the first technical timeout at 8-7. With Rhea Dimaculangan setting up Maika Ortiz with her running spikes and Adamson falling prey to a couple of interference calls, UST extended their lead to 17-13.

Key plays from Pamela Lastimosa and Jessey De Leon helped the Tigresses increase their lead to 21-16. The Tigresses were able to reach set-point at 24-21 care of Carmela Tunay’s relentless attacks, but the trio of the Lady Falcons of Angela Benting, PauSoriano and Shiela Pineda quickly retaliated to crawl in closer at 24-23.

Unfortunately for the Lady Falcons, the Dimaculangan-Ortiz combination produced a running spike that sealed the set at 25-23.

Adamson bounced back in an explosive manner as they lined up an 8-1 lead by the first technical timeout, behind the excellent performance of Mae Macatuno in the service zone.

However, the Tigresses crawled back into the game slowly but surely, with Ortiz remaining aggressive. With crowd favorite Maru Banaticla playing considerable minutes, the Tigresses suddenly turned the momentum of the set in their favor, as they managed to tie things up at 9-all. They eventually grabbed the lead at 11-10.

With the pace of the match devolving into a back-and-forth affair, the Lady Falcons were able to seize a 22-19 lead due to the Tigresses’ carelessness on court. With the game mirroring the first set, the Lady Falcons reached set point at 24-21 before the Tigresses fought back to inch closer at 23-24.

Despite UST’s attempt a comeback, the cleanly-hit spike of Pau Soriano was all Adamson needed, as they tied the match at one set a piece, 25-23.


The third set started as a well-contested match-up with both teams lining up 14 different deadlocks and seven lead changes. Jessey De Leon and Carmela Tunay however helped the Tigresses pull-away as they were able to connect from a variety of angles.

With UST's attacks bearing down on the Lady Falcons, Adamson began to line-up unforced errors as the Lady Tigresses claimed a four-point cushion at 20-16. UST eventually pulled away care of Ortiz’s usual stellar performance and a Pamela Lastimosa block that gave the Tigresses the set at 25-19.

The fourth set was a similar story as the third, with both squads continuing to attack relentlessly, refusing to let their opponent blow them out. UST was ahead by only one point by the first technical timeout at 8-7. Despite how close the match-up was, the Tigresses were able to maintain a slim lead throughout the set.

With Tunay stepping up for them, the Tigresses were able to reach a 23-20 advantage over the Lady Falcons. However, the Lady Falcons rallied back as they capitalized on some of the Tigresses’ errors and mishit attacks.

Adamson slowly climbed back and shocked UST as a Pau Soriano service ace brought Adamson the win at 25-23 and forced a fifth and final set.

Pineda and Benting were on target as they were able to put Adamson ahead at 8-5. However the Tigresses answered back quickly care of Lastimosa and Tunay. The set fell into deadlocks at 10-all, 11-all and 12-all.

However, the intensity of the Lady Falcons were too much for the Tigresses as the resiliency of Shiela Pineda delivered a crushing cross-court spike which propelled them to victory, 15-12.

Pineda and guest player Angela Benting chipped in 23 each to lead the San Marcelino-based squad in the five-set saga.

Team captain Pau Soriano added 18 while their other guest player Mylene Paat scored seven.

Maika Ortiz top-scored for the Lady Tigresses with 18 points, while guest player Aiza Maizo had 16. Pamela Lastimosa produced 15, while Mela Tunay chipped in 11. Jessey De Leon also added 10.

Despite having five double-digit scorers, UST was unable to handle the Lady Falcons' defense and relentless offense. - AMD, GMA News