GAMES WEDNESDAY
(PhilSports Arena)
1 p.m. – UE vs NU (Women)
3 p.m. – Ateneo vs FEU (Women)
ALTHOUGH down in the standings with a measly 4-7 card, Adamson University’s Lady Falcons are focused on their bid to catch the last bus in the semifinals of the 87th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament.
The Shaina Nitura-captained Lady Falcons dodged elimination after they stunned the Bella Belen-led reigning champions National University in a nail-biter last Sunday 25-23, 15-25, 28-26, 25-22 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With the crucial victory, Adamson moved into a tie with the Ateneo Blue Eagles at 4-7.
Despite the loss, NU secured the first Final Four ticket after Far Eastern University beat University of the Philippines earlier that day.
“Thank you God sa binigay niyang panalo kasi kapag will talaga ni God, no one can stop it. Binigay niya sa amin iyong panalo and nagtrabaho din ng todo iyong mga bata din, walang makaka-stop. Kahit malakas na team kayang talunin because din sa trabaho ng mga bata. I’m very proud sa mga bata ngayon kasi una palang, alam ko na maglalaro sila na gusto nilang manalo sa game na to,” Adamson mentor JP Yude said.
Yude said his charges’ hunger to win kept their campaign alive.
“Body language pa lang nila nakikita ko na gusto nilang manalo. At mananalo talaga because of the willingness na manalo andun. May mga times lang din, may mga lapses na nag on and off but still di nila pinabayaan kasi part ng journey ‘yan, part ng journey na may challenge talaga,” he said.
UP next for the Lady Falcons is another intense battle, this time against co-Final Four hopeful FEU Lady Tamaraws on Saturday at the Big Dome.
Yude said that Adamson should display what it is made of and demonstrate its grit and mettle when it faces gutsy FEU.
“Siguro iyong spirit lang talaga sa loob ng and then sa fight lang na meron iyong mga bata kasi walang imposible. May mga malakas na kalaban sa mga games namin pero kailangan lang talagang trabahuin one game at a time. So kailangan lang namin unahin iyong FEU. Gaya ng sinasabi ko walang mawawala satin so kumbaga kung pahihirapan natin sila, sa kanila may mawawala,” said Yude.
“Iyong mga makakalaban namin contender din sa Final Four so once na makuha namin kailangan lang talaga namin pag-igihan sa training and always trust one another talaga. Iyon lang talaga, kasi pag walang trust sa bawat isa mahirap so I fully trust my players sa kung anong kaya nilang gawin kasi I know that their capability kasi kaya nilang maglaro gaya ng tumalo ng malalakas na team.”
Nitura, Frances Mordi, Mayang Nuique and Fey Sagaysay are expected to soar anew for the Lady Falcons.
