NU downs UP, sweeps first round; Adamson keeps UE winless (Latest Sabong News)

National University swept the first round of the elimination capped by a 25-10, 25-20, 25-15 routing of University of the Philippines while Adamson returned in the win column after whipping the winless University of the East, 25-23, 25-20, 25-18, in the UAAP Season 84 women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Thursday, May 19. The trio of Michaela Belen, team captain Princess Robles, and Ivy Lacsina served as their scoring machine as they combined for 36 out of the Lady Bulldogs’ 75 total points. Belen fired 13 points all coming from spikes, Robles scored 12 markers off 11 attacks and a block, while Lacsina added 11 points with two service aces for NU, who had its best elimination round so far since its early 6-1 records achieved in Seasons 76 and 80. “Kailangan din namin itong panalo na to going to second round kasi momentum namin ‘to para ma-motivate lalo ‘yong team at makapag-prepare pa kami para sa mas mahirap na games lalo na sa second round,” said Lady Bulldogs head coach Karl Dimaculangan. “Bago sa amin ‘to. Bago sa akin na ‘yong team namin is bata pero ‘yon (first round sweep) kailangan namin para ma-motivate kami lalo na sa preparation namin for the next round. Alam namin ‘yong ibang teams mas marami nang adjustment nangyari and familiarity sa opponents kaya kailangan namin mas mag-prepare pa.” The Lady Maroons had their best shot at redemption in the second set after only trailing by three points in the latter parts, 23-20. But Robles and Erin Pangilinan made sure to end things swiftly as they connived for back-to-back attacks heading into the third set. After a strong 6-1 start in the third frame, UP crumbled as NU led by as many as 10 points to pull away for good, 21-11, and never looked back at that point for the win and the sweep. While the Lady Bulldogs savored their 7-0 streak, the Lady Maroons dropped their last four matches after three straight wins since the beginning of the season and ended up with a 3-4 slate. Earlier, May Ann Nuique and Lorene Toring led Adamson to end the first round on a high note with a 4-3 record. Nuique spearheaded the Lady Falcons with 15 points on top of 11 spikes and four blocks while Toring scored 14 markers off 10 attacks and four blocks as well. Adamson easily bounced back from a 12-25, 25-19, 25-22, 18-25, 15-9 loss against University of Santo Tomas last May 17. After that loss, the Lady Falcons are more than satisfied that things ended in their favor this time around. It was Toring though who benefitted the most after only scoring one point in the last game against the Golden Tigresses. After cruising past the Lady Warriors in the past two sets, the Lady Falcons unloaded a 9-1 run midway through the last and third canto for the win. Nuique and Toring also delivered the finishing blows in the second set in response to UE’s late comeback attempt. Janeca Lana still paced the Lady Warriors, who fell to a 0-7 hole, with 16 points built on 13 spikes and two service aces while Ercae Nieva fired 13 spikes for 14 markers. The showdowns between Ateneo (3-3) and UST (4-2) as well as De La Salle (4-2) and Far Eastern University (1-5) are ongoing at press time. ###