Adamson Lady Falcons after beating FEU Lady Tamaraws in UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball.–UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Despite already being out of Final Four contention, super rookie Shaina Nitura and Adamson still left everything on the floor for a 14-25, 29-27, 25-22, 25-22 upset victory over Far Eastern University in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.
As if the race for a semifinal seat isn’t complicated enough, the Lady Falcons made it more difficult for the Lady Tamaraws behind another record-breaking performance of Nitura.
Tied with University of Santo Tomas at No. 3 with similar 8-4 records entering the match, FEU dropped to fourth following its fifth loss.
READ: Shaina Nitura breaks another UAAP record in Adamson win
As for the Lady Falcons, their hopes for a playoff spot vanished even before the contest with the Tigresses’ whipping of winless University of the East in the earlier game.
Nitura unleashed 37 points scattered from 31 kills, five blocks and an ace for her latest accolade after resetting the single-season scoring record with a total of 314 points to unseat former Ateneo star Alyssa Valdez.
Prior to this, the Adamson ace has already broken the rookie and single-game scoring records. This is her fifth 30-point game this season and her third straight.
“I am very proud talaga sa mga bata, always naman, on how they performed sa training then sa paglalaro,” coach JP Yude said. “Sumusunod sila sa mga instructions in and out of the court so I am very proud of them sa pinakita nila ngayon because nga gusto talaga namin manalo eh.”
READ: UAAP: Shaina Nitura, Adamson draw strength from losses to score upset
With Fhei Sagaysay’s 15 excellent sets, senior May Ann Nuique and Ces Mordi also contributed 11 points.
FEU had all the motivations coming into the game with a semis spot at stake and it showed in the lopsided opening frame. But Nitura and Co., playing with no pressure, had other plans.
The Tamaraws traded punches with the Falcons. A Nuique block followed by a hit off the block by Nitura pushed Adamson to a 22-20 lead before the star rookie star went full throttle scoring the next three with a block on Faida Bakanke and two straight cross-court attacks.
Gerzel Petallo paced FEU with 18 points while Chenie Tagaod added 12 points and Tin Ubaldo tossed in 18 excellent sets in a losing effort.
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