Adamson inched closer to winning the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals crown after pulling off a dramatic 22-25, 25-17, 17-25, 27-25, 16-14 win over reigning UAAP champion La Salle Wednesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Lady Falcons were at their best in the fourth where they erased a 20-11 deficit behind their booming spikes plus a rock-solid defense to bring the mighty Lady Spikers down to their knees.
Emboldened by that great escape, the San Marcelino-based squad battled the Lady Spikers wit for wit and power for power in the deciding fifth set.
Shocked but delighted, fans cheered the Lady Falcons after another cardiac finish – big thanks to skipper Lucille Almonte.
On a beast mode, Almonte tallied 24 points on three aces and a block while super rookie Red Bascon delivered when it mattered most, none bigger than her back-to-back hits to finish with seven points and clinch it for the Lady Falcons.
Ayesha Juegos had 13 points while Sharya Nicole Ancheta and Lorene Toring added 10 apiece that underscored the depth and sharpness of the team.
“Lagi ko kasing sinasabi sa kanila, may tiwala ako sa kanila. Kaya I always encourage them, especially nung 4th set, down kami, sabi ko ‘di pa tapos ‘yung laban. ‘Di pa naman 25. Sabi ko isa-isahin natin. Tyagain natin,” said coach JP Yude, a former Adamson player, in his first tournament since taking over from Jerry Yee in June.
“Siguro, na-absorb nila yun. Siguro nakita din nila sa akin, for me, ‘di pa talo. Ayusin nyo yung mga mukha nyo, yung body language nyo. Hindi pa tapos ‘yung laban. Siguro nakita nila yung eagerness na i-push sila.”
La Salle, riding on a five-set win against the University of Santo Tomas from a 1-2 deficit including multiple match points saved, looked headed into an easy four-set win against Adamson by building what seemed an insurmountable 20-11 lead off a Thea Gagate hit.
But Adamson simply refused to fade into night.
With Almonte setting the tone, the Lady Falcons launched a killer 11-1 rally capped by Ancheta’s quick attack in the middle to snatch the driver seat at 22-21.
Both teams traded blows from there on, with each one reaching match point, before Bascon unloaded two straight hits for a 27-25 win to extend the match to the fifth set.
As they figured in a back-and-forth decider anew, Bascon would not shy away from the big stage by hammering through another back-to-back attack for the win.
Shevana Laput rifled in a tournament-high 30 points, Thea Gagate and Alleiah Malaluan added 14 points while Baby Jyne Soreño had 11 points but La Salle still absorbed its first defeat in the 12-team tournament.
