UAAP: Lady Falcons knot Lady Tams in the standings behind Pineda surge

Shiela Pineda dominated in Adamson’s four-set win against the FEU Lady Tamaraws, 25-15 17-25 25-17 25-23, Wednesday at the FilOil Flying V Arena in UAAP Season 76's women's volleyball tournament.

Pineda was named the Player of the Game as she finished with 20 points, 18 attacks and 2 service aces. This Adamson win ties the Lady Falcons with their foes, the Lady Tamaraws at 6-6 in the standings, behind third-placed ADMU Lady Eagles, who are at 7-4

With FEU’s capable defender, Mary Palma, out of the starting lineup due to a knee injury, the Lady Tamaraws suffered an early 8-3 deficit, care of Adamson’s aggressiveness. Mayette Zapanta attacked relentlessly, while Mylene Paat took charge of the blocking for the Lady Falcons.

Pineda pushed the Lady Falcons to a six-point lead at 11-5, before the Lady Tamaraws retaliated with a 4-0 scoring run. Following an outside hit by Pineda, a Glyssa Torres block and a couple of well-placed tips by Bernadeth Pons had FEU within two, 11-9.

Adamson however was able to maintain their composure despite the Lady Tamaraws surge, as Zapanta displayed no fear against the blockers, her spikes propelling Adamson ahead by the second technical timeout at 16-11.

The Lady Falcons kept momentum for the rest of the set as Pineda’s high-flying and thunderous crosscourt kills secured the first set for Adamson by a margin of 10, 25-15.

FEU struggled in the opening set as they lined up 10 unforced errors and were outnumbered in attacks by the margin of 5-13.

Adamson started the second set with a 5-1, lead highlighted by a Zapanta attack and a Faye Guevara service ace. FEU answered back to come within a point at 6-5 but Pineda’s high-intensity attacks gave Adamson an 8-5 lead by the first technical timeout.  

With what appeared to be another set heavily controlled by the Lady Falcons, the Lady Tamaraw’s coaching staff retaliated by placing Palma in the game. Despite nursing a ligament injury, Palma scored off a quick attack and helped the Lady Tamaraws tie the set at 10-all.

Behind Geneveve Casugod’s intimidating blocking presence, FEU garnered their first lead of the match at 11-10.  The Lady Tamaraws benefited from key contributions from Samantha Dawson and the injured Palma. With a crucial rotational error called against the Lady Falcons, FEU erupted and took a 16-12 advantage. The Lady Tamarawas did not look back in the second set as Pons remained aggressive in her attacks, leading to FEU taking the second set, 25-17.

Despite the rough second set for Adamson, they bounced back in the third with an immediate 5-1 scoring run that forced Coach Shaq Delos Santos to call for time.  Casugod’s blocking and Pons’ ability to drop balls to the open zone answered back, bringing FEU within two at 6-4. But veteran Marleen Cortel made sure that the Lady Falcons entered the first technical timeout ahead, as her lefty attacks gave Adamson the 8-5 advantage. Adamson continued to score off Pineda’s craftiness, her varying attacks and a Guevara quick hit extending the Lady Falcon’s lead, 15-11.

Both teams exchanged errors on succeeding plays as the Lady Falcons emerged on top by the second technical timeout at 16-12. Adamson controlled the pace of the rest of the set as they ended with a 7-1 scoring run sparked by Paat’s blocking. Pineda finished the set at 25-17 with an explosive block-piercing spike.

The fourth set kicked off with Pineda and Zapanta seemingly hitting every ball in their sweet spot, as their thunderous spikes and aces brought the Lady Falcons ahead, 6-3. Unfortunately for Adamson, the Lady Tamaraws bagged a 9-0 scoring run due to an abundance of unforced errors by the Lady Falcons. FEU reached the second technical timeout ahead by four, 16-12 behind Marie Simborio’s deceptively-placed drop shots.

The Lady Tamaraws extended their lead to 22-15. Adamson however retaliated with a 10-1 scoring run care of Pineda’s offensive outburst. During the late-game stages of the set, Zapanta showed an efficient display behind the service line as she started the point in seven straight opportunities. Paat also contributed with a crucial tip off a free ball that brought the Lady Falcons within one, 22-21.

With the surging Adamson squad filled with momentum, Pineda took it upon herself to finish things off, making it 23-all, before getting the lead via a Simborio error. May Macatuno continuously fed the ball to the dominant Pineda as she finished the set and completed the comeback with a deep spike that grazed the line, 25-23. - AMD, GMA News