ADAMSON cruised to the Final Four with an easy 25-21, 25-18, 25-15 win over Arellano U in the Shakey’ Super League Collegiate Pre-Season Championship quarterfinals over the weekend at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
All players, except for the liberos, scored as the Lady Falcons maximized their win-once bonus to make a return trip to the semifinals.
Adamson finished third in the inaugural season and found no trouble replicating its feat in only 83 minutes with 13 players scoring led by Maria Rochelle Lalongisip’s eight points.
Ayesha Juegos, Jen Villegas and Antonette Adolfo chipped in seven points each, skipper Lucille Almonte had five while Lorence Toring and Jimy Jean Jamili added five points apiece.
“We’re so happy and grateful na nakapasok kami sa semis. Nakabawi kami at naibigay namin ‘yung best as a team. Ngayon, mas naibigay namin ‘yung laro namin,” said Juegos, who claimed the Player of the Game honors on five hits and two aces.
The Lady Falcons will face reigning champion and undefeated National U, which also made short work of the University of the East with a 25-19, 25-21, 25-23 win in the other quarterfinal pairing.
Also barging into the Final Four was Far Eastern U after trouncing Ateneo, 25-19, 25-18, 25-18, to arrange a knockout semifinal match against either NCAA champion College of St. Benilde or University of Santo Tomas.
St. Benilde forced a deciding game against UST, equipped with a twice-to-beat advantage, in their quarterfinal duel after a thrilling 25-22, 23-25, 18-25, 25-23, 15-11 win.
The rubber match is set this Saturday with the winner completing the Final Four cast of SSL Season 2.
UE and Arellano, as well as Ateneo against the loser between St. Benilde and UST, will tussle in the classification matches before the semis and the best-of-three finals.