Written by Akari Sports Staff | Photo from The UAAP
ADAMSON shoots for its first Final Four appearance in three years as it faces a Far Eastern University also fighting for a place in the next round Saturday in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena.
After finishing third in 2023, the Lady Falcons endured a painful rebuild but were able to get back on their feet.
Bannered by sophomores Shai Nitura and Fhei Sagaysay, who led Adamson’s historic high school girls volleyball title run in Season 86, the Lady Falcons were able to surpass last year’s six-win output and are on the cusp of ending the Final Four drought.
“Siguro for me, unti-unti papunta naman kami doon sa ginugusto namin. Pero syempre, we are always [a] work in progress. Hindi naman all the time perfect, may mga lapses namin. We appreciate rin yung mga effort ng mga bata sa training, on how they respond, paano pag-aralan ang kalaban. For me, I am very grateful na unti-unti nafu-fulfill namin yung gusto namin mangyari,” Adamson coach JP Yude said.
The Lady Falcons hope to get the job done and avoid any playoff complications in the 5 p.m. duel with the Lady Tamaraws to cap the final QPav matchday of the season.
Adamson holds an 8-5 record in third place, half a game ahead of University of Santo Tomas and FEU, both sporting 7-5 slates.
The Lady Tamaraws need to hurdle their last two matches, against the Lady Falcons and the Blue Eagles on Wednesday, to advance to the Final Four. A split in the last two would most likely drag FEU to a playoff for the No. 4 spot.
The Tigresses are also in a must-win situation to reach the Final Four. UST will play the already-eliminated University of the Philippines tomorrow and defending champion National University on Wednesday.
La Salle is gunning for an outright passage to the Finals. The Lady Spikers seek to complete a 14-match sweep of eliminations against the Lady Bulldogs (9-3) to trigger a step-ladder format for the other title round berth Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Aside from denying its foes an automatic Finals slot, NU aims for the twice-to-beat Final Four incentive.
With a Final Four debut within reach, Nitura is working doubly hard to improve her game.
“Siguro ano yan, siyempre I think everyone naman pag may gusto, talagang ipilit gagawa ng paraan, kaliwa, kanan, baba at taas kung gusto mo talaga. Pero yun nga, dahil nga coaches here, yung mga tao sa paligid ko is guiding me, and God is guiding me as well na if hindi yun makuha, at hindi ko makuha yung resulta na gusto kong makuha, I have to like, think about them. Mas may other plans, mas may magandang plans si God sa gusto kong mangyari. So I just have to trust and respond well, and just trust God’s will palagi. Kasi yun naman yung team namin eh. Doon kami pinalaki ni coach and doon kami naniniwala. If it’s not now, maybe we just have to be patient and wait for the right time to come,” Nitura said.
