PVL: Lady Falcons clobber Altas

Games today
10 a.m. – NU vs Perpetual (men’s)
12 noon – San Beda vs St. Benilde (men’s)
4 p.m. – FEU vs St. Benilde (women’s)
6:30 p.m. – UST vs San Sebastian (women’s)

Adamson shook off early jitters and Perpetual Help’s tough stand in the early going of the last two sets, carving out a 25-19, 25-18 25-16 victory at the start of the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Collegiate Conference marred by National U’s last-minute withdrawal.

The Lady Bulldogs were supposed to take on the San Beda U Red Spikers in yesterday’s main tussle at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan. But the organizing Sports Vision president Ricky Palou said he received a phone call from NU coach Babes Castillo early morning informing him of the school’s decision to skip the tournament the Lady Bulldogs ruled in imposing fashion last year.

That leaves eight schools to dispute the championship in the mid-season conference of the league with last year’s runner-up Far Eastern U and Adamson looming as the teams to beat in the two-month long tournament also serving as part of their buildup for the upcoming UAAP and NCAA seasons.

“We were actually a bit jittery but I think it’s going to be a great tournament in our build-up for the UAAP,” said AdU coach Air Padda after steering the Lady Falcons to the straight-set romp.

Adamson actually lost three key players to graduation but still unloaded enough firepower to demolish the Las Piñas-based school with Eli Soyud and Chiara Permentilla delivering 17 and 13 points, respectively.

The Lady Falcons fell by five early in the second frame and fought back from 10-12 down in the third on their way to victory.

Bianca Tripoli scored 12 points for the only double-digit output by a Perpetual player as Cindy Imbo, Jhona Rosal, Shyra Umandal and Jenny Gaviola struggled for five markers apiece.

University of San Tomas and San Sebastian, meanwhile, kick off their title campaign at 6:30 p.m. at resumption of the tournament today (Sunday) with FEU testing St. Benilde’s mettle in the first game at 4 p.m. Games can be viewed live on ABS-CBN Sports + Action Ch 23 and via streaming on sports.abs-cbn.com/livestream/pvl.

University of the Philippines, the eighth team seeing action in the event backed by Mikasa and Asics, debuts against Perpetual Help next Saturday.

Adamson made it a double victory in opening day as the Falcons outlasted Arellano U, 25-22, 26-24, 22-25, 26-24, in the men’s division.

Skipper Paolo Pablico unleashed a 30-hit game, including 27 attack points, while George Labang came away with four kill blocks en route to a 13-hit game as they powered the Falcons past the NCAA Season 93 runners-up.

Earlier, UP rallied from 1-2 set down then proved steadier in the clutch as it subdued La Salle in a thrilling duel, 23-25, 25-19, 25-27, 25-22, 15-12.

Mark Millete fired 31 points, including 26 kills, while Joshua Castillo debuted with 16 markers and Gian San Pascual added 12 points for the Fighting Maroons, who blasted in 60 attack points and pounced on the Green Spikers’ poor reception with nine service aces.

Cris Dumago made 24 points while Geraint Bacon and David delos Reyes added 12 markers each for La Salle, which yielded 35 points off errors, including costly miscues in the decider.